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

[mking8288]

On the double decker shuttle bus ride back to the ship - NCL charges $15 p/p for this, like yesterday in Ibiza AND the $50 shorex credit is not applicable 😳😤 😠 - ask & spoke with ... "sorry" given 🙄

It's for our (in) convenience as a service.

 

Of course, some pax choose to walk 20+ minutes to exit the port area to find other means of transportation, Uber isn't available or permitted to operate here. 

 

This is intended as a FYI post - 🙊

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by mking8288

[bluesea777]

9 hours ago, AtSeaAlways said:

The cruise has been good.  The "software" is good to excellent.

 If I ran NCL I would solve five nagging hardware problems aboard:

1. Install a water bottle filling station No, this will encourage ppl to not buy water bottles packages, also it’s unhygienic. 

2. Bedside USB charging it’s underway - new builds have them, plus ships that went thru dry dock & refurbishment have them

3. Design a sound proof toilet room door -airliners have them Epic is unique, no other ships have this toilet design like Epic’s

4. Take a look at the diesel stack setup- add three feet, a wide plate/wing air flow diverter - or swap out the motors for ultra low emissions ones

5. Replace the giant DJ booth in Manhattan with a modern ipad controlled setup and free up space for a few more guest tables.

 

 

Glad to hear you’re enjoying the cruise. 
 

Edited May 6, 2023 by bluesea777

[mking8288]

Our packing 95% done, going to put priority tags on our 3 24" rollerboards & get them inside the cruise terminal in the morning, instead of doing the express. Our 4th bag of free laundry was waited in our room when we came back earlier - yay, no charge as complimentary - that's over $400 worth of wash & dry if itemized, or $116 worth based on the special rate of $29 per stuffed bag.

 

Now, we get plenty of clean clothes for another 6 to 9 days of travel. 

 

Our checked bags now weighted around 40 lbs only, under the 44 lbs limit set by TAP Portugal airline we are using next week. 

 

Earlier, we stopped in the Garden Cafe / buffet to check things out ... not impressed, I grade the options & varieties - subjectively, a B minus at most, fewer items offered and the dessert options are plan awful.  If you cruise for breaded chicken wings, not the new OSH wings - be prepared to be disappointed.  Well, reasons 13 to avoid eating in the buffet for lunch or dinner, IMHO of course. The thin-crested pizza was pretty good. 

 

We didn't go hungry and never do on a cruise ... 

Edited May 6, 2023 by mking8288

[dexddd]

Looks like Matzo, or is it Matzah, ball soup leftovers from last night.

 

Nice port pictures.

 

Safe travels.

 

Did they show the coronation on the aft jumbo tron with drink carts?

[mking8288]

Bye bye, Palma ... we are on the move @ 6:45 pm - leaving 15 minutes early, sitting in Taste MDR and can feel the engines slightly shaking as power increased.  

 

Next & final stop for us - Barcelona in the pre-dawn hours of 5:30 am. 

 

[mking8288]

Here's the new virtual farewell wave as shown on giant TV screen projection in the atrium lobby, just as we finished up our 2 hour dinner in Taste.

 

 

Last sunset on the Epic on this TA as the final evening's curtain will soon be down.  

 

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

We are still getting a good cellular signal hugging coastal Palma doing 16 knots, ETA into Barcelona is 3 am, ahead of our scheduled 5:30 arrival in less than 10 hours. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Hola, Barcelona ... Epic has docked early and sun has risen, exodus has begun for disembarkation before 7 am. Tipped our steward last night and said goodbye to Menzi, been with NCL since 2004 doing housekeeping. Packed elevators as usual, 2 of the forward ones used for priority services.  Our bags should be inside the terminals, heading out soon with our small carry-on bags. 

 

As our tradition, in the MDR for breakfast before we go.  8:30 am - once picked up by the tour outside the terminal, we head to Monseratt for touring. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Most luggage tag colors were called by 7:30 am, gangways on deck 6 and 7 and lines to exit into cruise terminal was moving and not long. Going thru Spain immigration was quick & got our passports stamped, then into luggage area to collect our bags - already off the moving carousels, lined up by colors.  We're early & paused for restrooms and then headed outside, met our driver & guide - now en route to do the Monseratt tour, a 1 hour drive from the port.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Bonus - Barcelona cruise terminal area and views of the city 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

On our way to see Monseratt in a luxury van with 7 plus driver/guide - photos set #1 - unedited 

 

[mking8288]

Fast forward or skip ahead, driven back to our H10 hotel with luggage and we're able to check in at 2 pm.  Just 5 blocks from La Rambla, very convenient, cafe & tapas around the 4 corners plus 24/7 mini marts, large 1.5L bottled water at 1 💶 Euro each.  Hotel provides 2 complimentary .5L of mineral water daily and a Welcome mini box of chocolate. 

NCL ... take a hint 🧐

 

More pictures from our excellent tour of  Monseratt later.  Next, after setting up our courtyard looking deluxe room on floor 3 facing the courtyard, time to eat a late lunch. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by mking8288

[dexddd]

22 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Here's the new virtual farewell wave as shown on giant TV screen projection in the atrium lobby, just as we finished up our 2 hour dinner in Taste.

 

 

Last sunset on the Epic on this TA as the final evening's curtain will soon be down.  

 

 

So Blair from Facts Of Life is an officer on the Epic?

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, dexddd said:

So Blair from Facts Of Life is an officer on the Epic?

LOL, she does look like Blair.

 

After 15 nights with the funky toilet & shower closet on the Epic, it's nice to see a true bathroom with both a deep tub and rainforest shower, towels warmer and a full set of complimentary toiletry items, including shower cap & shoe polish cloth. Soft bathrobes & slippers w/o having to ask or request them. 

 

Let's not forget the Krups machine with Nespresso capsules - instead of chatting with one's room attendant at NCL.   Complimentary cocktail on the house in the hotel bar being Club H10 member. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

The ladies wanted something different for lunch and not tapas, wow - they aren't pricey like tourist traps at Motril or Ibizia. Quick breakfast for 5 Euros, 10 p/p at most - H10 Casanova is another 25 p/p extra, which we excluded. 

 

We ended up at Pho Ha Noi, just 2 blocks from our hotel (3 blocks off La Rambla) - tab came to just 61 Euros and 20% isn't added, not customary here nor expected - 5 Euros 👌 🤗 👍

 

A nice change from MDR and ship's specialty dining 😎 

 

Pre- and post- cruise & staying in Barcelona, this place is worth checking out if your hotel is nearby.  We recommend & approve it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by mking8288

[bedfordmom]

Remember being in Barcelona and my high school Spanish didn’t cut it back then. No one spoke English and most spoke Catalan a derivative of Spanish and French. No google translate back then. 

[mking8288]

3 hours ago, bedfordmom said:

Remember being in Barcelona and my high school Spanish didn’t cut it ... Some English spoken today, point & click on the menu work ... Google translate back then. 

Hola, I gave back my basic Spanish from my Bronx high school days too, aside from a few short sentences & phrases.  Haven't need to use Google Translate Live yet. 

 

Our tour driver/guide today was bilingualy fluent: semi-private tour for 7 was less pricey & more personal than a shared bus tour with 50+ fellow riders ... Benz minivan with leather seats was super comfortable & our luggage securely stored.  Have another 1/2 day tour scheduled tomorrow, pick-up in front of our hotel at 8:30 am & ending at Sagrada Familia - unfinished church. 

 

DW wishes we had planned for a longer stay post-cruise. I said we will just plan another trip or TA. 

 

Sitting in a place called Little Foodie, northern Chinese cuisine - native Spanish worker taking our orders by the numbers ... also very close to our hotel.    Inexpensive & very good.  It puts NCL's Shanghai Restaurant & Noodles Bar to shame, their corporate head of food operations ought to sample a few places like this to reset their onboard offerings, and bring a few executive chefs along. 

 

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by mking8288

[bedfordmom]

What tour company did you take today. Barcelona Day Tours? Those companies Spain and Barcelona Day Tours were very receptive and prompt returning our money for our cancelled 2020 tours. 

[mking8288]

@bedfordmom - Barcelona Day Tours, as highly recommended by fellow CC'ers on the roll call, excellent & ongoing communications from their team. Going to do a write-up in the Spain ports after we get home & have more time ... (and on TripAdvisors & Google Maps)

 

[mking8288]

We didn't have to go far for dinner, plus there was a bit of light rain ... which Barcelona & Spain badly needed, that "ruined" our plan to walk La Rambla.  Well, we still have Monday afternoon or evening.  

 

No fresh lobsters, no filet mignon or beef tenderloin or seafood paella - just 2 starters or appetizers, and 3 classics: kung po chicken, salt & pepper shrimps, eggplants in garlic sauce, and sauteed baby bok choy, etc.  Bill came to just 60 Euros in total, plus 5 for tips, not expected - chef personally came out to ask & made sure the food was good 👍. 

 

There's a sushi place and a burger joint on the same block - McDonald is a much longer walk.  Tapas around here start at 3 Euros and average 5 to 6 ... in hindsight, should've skipped them in Ibiza 😀

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Monseratt - batched photos #2 set - including the cable car to go up to the monastery, and the train from Barcelona ... doable when staying here & can plan, leave early to avoid crowds & lines to see the Black Virgin Mary ( an admission fee & reservation are now required, best to book in advance - done for us by BDT ) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes: there are plenty more photos from this side trip to Monseratt ... probably best to reach more CC'ers interested in planning a visit, to go to the Spain port section to check it out, and put a cross-reference link to make it easier to find.

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Our last day in Barcelona, post-cruise and did a half day, deluxe semi-private tour on City Highlights, by BDT.  Look for a full report later this week in the Spain port, link will be added here. 

 

 

 

 

[depplep]

Montserrat looks so beautiful! Thank you for continuing to share this journey with us.

[bedfordmom]

So different from when I was last in Barcelona in 1992. Park Guell was open  to all no admission fee, Lagrada Familia is more finished but still incomplete. One could just enter for a small fee and no need to prereserve. 
 

I was wondering when you split the 2 Spain Day tours as when we were going inn 2020 we were going to do the city tour and Montserrat in one full day tour. 

[mking8288]

On request, extra pix of our H10 Casanova hotel room for 3, about 250 Euros all taxes & surcharges, city taxes, etc.  Breakfast buffet no added (extra costs).  Cafe w inexpensive breakfast across the street & around the corners for 5 Euros or less, coffee included. Plus, highlights of our meals today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 8, 2023 by mking8288