Semi/Live: an "Epic" TA, 15 nights NY to Barcelona 04/22/23 - 05/07/23

[mking8288]

That's the free NCL Ferry, Spirit of St. George, leaving Dockyard for its only round-trip today for those on the Epic.  Not sure whether those on the Pearl are "rise sharing"

 

[mking8288]

Calico Jack's, out of dry dock storage ??  - they are back & getting ready ... Those with overnight Bermuda stays should welcome their return. 

 

 

Edited April 24, 2023 by mking8288

[Cruising Lynne]

22 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Cloudy afternoon, on the windy side out in this angled secret large balcony.  There's room out there for at least 2 loungers, or a table plus an extra chair for breakfast 😁😁😁   We can get really creative next ... 

 

Mini refrigerator emptied out so we can store our own stuffs, including ice in the bucket, and coffee/hot water maker with the set-up, and 3 cups. 🫢

 

Key numbers - speed at 19.2 knots, 328 nm to Heritage Wharf at Dockyard at 4:45 pm ship/Bermuda time.

 

 

 

 

New brand of coffee pods in stock now. 

Check the new pod package before making coffee. The first day we used them on Pearl last month the coffee was way too strong. My husband noticed that it says it makes four cups. The next time he made coffee, he made a cup to split into two cups, then ran water through again and added half to each cup. Hopefully they return to the proper size pods soon or else they need new coffee makers.

[mking8288]

Epic - she is relocating to her new home port in Europe

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 24, 2023 by mking8288

[room with a view]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

You could if you try hard and stretch, but not easy & potentially unsafe or dangerous, I don't recommend doing it. 

Hi , I should have said to the balconies below !!! later this year we will be in 11099.

Enjoying your fabulous photos ...thanks

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, room with a view said:

Hi , I should have said to the balconies below !!! later this year we will be in 11099.

Enjoying your fabulous photos ...thanks

Does this help ?  We are on Deck 1304x 

[room with a view]

5 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Does this help ?  We are on Deck 1304x 

Thanks , yes .

Hopeful that someone will post photos of 11099.

 

[mking8288]

Photos of our B4 Family Balcony - a handful of "secret" angled large ones that's sought after, like the ones on the *Away/plus class ships.  The one next to us is, officially, a large balcony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sofabed has 2 large storage drawers below. The mattress/frame slide out further as a twin bed hideaway.

 

Edited April 24, 2023 by mking8288

[All-ready2cruise]

Wow, that looks absolutely wonderful.  Glad you're enjoying your cruise and thank you so much for doing such a wonderful review.  Great job.  And the info you're sharing is just amazing.  Thank you. 

[room with a view]

Thanks for the photos ...that's some cabin . Brilliant information you are sharing for future cruisers.

I will be interested to see how your cruise progresses .

We will be in a B6 large balcony.

[mking8288]

Spirit of St. George is back, looks fully packed with ship pax. 

 

 

 

Edited April 24, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, All-ready2cruise said:

Wow, that looks absolutely wonderful.  

 

1 hour ago, room with a view said:

Thanks for the photos ...that's some cabin . Brilliant information you are sharing for future cruisers ... will be in a B6 large balcony.

13043 next door is a B6, same size interior and balcony just a bit bigger than ours.  Ours connect to 13039, as a result of the door, we "lost" or have less closet storage.  Stacked 2 of our 3 - 24 in. spinners and those medium packing cubes put to use to keep items neat, clean & organized. 

 

Now, we just need a Paracord across for a makeshift hanging rod 🙊🙊🙊 since we didn't want to bend low to use the 2 large slide out drawers under the sofa. 

 

We could easily stack the other 25" rollerboard here and still have a flat surface for using our individual packing cubes.  Carry-on bags fit & stored inside these cases. 

Edited April 24, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Bonus info - those bound for Bermuda, public transport info & rates - latest as posted here at Dockyard, always check & reconfirm. 

 

 

[AtSeaAlways]

We went ashore on a beautiful day in search of fish stew- a local favorite.  Laborers from the West Indies were "imported" over the years and brought food influences.  Lunch prices were not terrrible.

 

We only had the soup and arrived aboard starving.  F&B gets points for the late "Lunch Grill" until 530.  The pool deck is wide and long and feels less like a bowl you see on many ships.  There are shady tables.  A good Latin/Island band was playing for us.  The food was bits of the buffet.  The pizza needs an intervention- think  grade school cafeteria- the crust seems maybe frozen. The Cruise Director Roberto is I think Italian.  NCL HQ would hate this but is needed.  

[mking8288]

6 pm - we are underway and leaving on time. Bye, Bermuda. 

 

Next stop, Ponta Delgada after 4 full sea days ... First, Cagney's night for dining.

Edited April 24, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Back on satellite WiFi - screenshot from Epic's bridge cam.  St. George's in the distance now as we head easterly.

 

[laudergayle]

Well…now I know that you could see our balcony…12017.  Large regular balcony.  We loved the location…but…now realize it was not nearly as private…lol

[AtSeaAlways]

Admin:  Probably time to merge the live threads here.

 

Epic Pro Tip #1:  In warm weather non premium passengers can find a table on the pool deck for early dinner.  The lines down on five and six are grim. 45 minute beeper three nights in a row. Tip #2: Cha Cha lessons.  The good news- the dance floor was packed.  The bad news - six new tables on the dance floor.  

Edited April 25, 2023 by AtSeaAlways

[mking8288]

Cagney's tonight - "instructions" from our server, whether it is from using our Platinum voucher or Dining package credit - choice of 1 starter, 1 soup or salad, 1 entree w 2 sides (aside from 4 selections with upcharge) and 1 dessert, no takeout of unfinished food or dessert)

 

DW said did the crab cake got smaller too, like the iceberg wedge ... hmmm.  Suffice to say, no further comments from me 🫢  About those $9 MSRP side dishes, 4 onion rings or 4 grilled zucchini slices, sauteed mushrooms or spinach - I wasn't impressed.  Service was cheerfully friendly, attentive and met expectations, can't find reasons to not cash tip the team, as even the asst manager on duty stopped by & again thank us as we left the steakhouse. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Deck 15 AFT near Spice H20 at 7:50 pm, like the pool area mid-ship, pretty empty & quiet, and the area could be better utilized - except it's outdoor oriented, windy & a bit chilly. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by mking8288

[amygutman]

13 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Epic - she is relocating to her new home port in Europe

 

 

 

 

 

Great photos! And it’s awesome because it shows exactly on the ship where our room will be for our TA on this ship, I need to Europe back to the United States around next year.

Plus, my past home, Bermuda looks just as beautiful as when we left it. Thank you for making me smile.

I’m loving this thread so much for your sense of humor and information. It’s wonderful to follow.
Have a great day, warmest, Amy

[dexddd]

On 4/23/2023 at 8:12 PM, mking8288 said:

Day 2 - we didn't book any restaurant for dinner and lines everywhere, decided to give Shanghai Restaurant/Noodles Bar, next to & behind the casino a try for a light supper.  It's basically the noodles bar menu, plus 3 or 4 entrees, like Kung Po Chicken and Orange Beef.  Given a pager with 45 minutes wait, seated in about 30 minutes - ordered several familiar items.  Good enough as comfort Asian food at sea.  Panda salad & pudding to round up the evening, took a walk thru Deck 7 and passed the spacious duty-free & gift ships area. Teppanyaki wasn't busy ... hmmm 🤔

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think that is a fancier version of the device in Frankenstein to zap him to life.

[dexddd]

16 hours ago, mking8288 said:

@dexddd This is an exclusive free shopping mall shuttle stop, and I paused for a moment.  It is for your convenience 😁😁😁

 

 

Off-season maintenance ? 

 

Thanks.  Last time we were there on Escape 2018 the mall is where DW got last minute trinkets for well, just about everybody.

[dexddd]

Saw the two ships in Port yesterday.  Pearl looked dinky compared to Epic even though Pearl a good size ship.

Edited April 25, 2023 by dexddd

[mking8288]

Rise-and-shine again, Day 4 at sea, a minor to  modest sea swell toward morning 🌄 - alarm went off at 7:30 am, brush up, change & up 2 floors to the buffet for a quick & light breakfast. Down to Deck 5 to check-in for the complimentary BTS tour, DW decided to sleep in & abandoned me to do the stairs and walk I-95.  She went to bed at 10 pm last night but wanted extra beauty sleep.

 

Internet was working last night but offline this morning, maybe they reset the onboard server for maintenance or passed an area without overhead satellite coverage.  Speed results last night was fine, a little slower on the Google Pixel 4a 5G, VPN disabled.