Live EPIC Mediterannean 11-Day Cruise from Marseille, France October 2, 2023-with pics!

[bluesea777]

4 hours ago, jsn55 said:

Reminder to always bring a nightlight to plug in.  Avoids turning on any lights at all in the middle of the night.  Learned this the hard way!

No, don’t bring any plug-in night lights - they do not always work.

 

Bring battery-operated tea lights instead. 
 

 

[mking8288]

27 minutes ago, bluesea777 said:

plug-in night lights - they do not always work. Bring battery-operated tea lights instead. 

Try my ultimate solution, mini 3 LED lights that run off nearly all older USB plugs & outlet, now that Apple is switching to USB-C ... got a drawer full of these.  Better yet, use that with lipstick or portable USB power bank, hundreds of hours in run-time. 

 

Fancier one on Amazon, got a dozen of them for $5 on eBay, shipped from overseas & nice gifts for any traveler.

 

P.S.  Happy & safe Columbus Day to all, especially those CC'ers traveling abroad - be alert 😉

 

Edited October 9, 2023 by mking8288

[graphicguy]

7 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Haha, you finally (re)discover La Cucina b/c most of your time aren't anywhere near the Fwd Garden Cafe, it was open during the TA for extra seating and acted as the Fwd Observation Lounge for steerage when the buffet was simply too crowded, and groups of pax turned into inside chair hogs, dawn to dust.  We had an amazing sunset dinner by the windows - service was excellent - can access the restaurant directly from Deck 14.  The tenderloin was excellent, cooked medium for me and the salmon was perfectly prepared.  Have you visited the Bridge Viewing Room yet - go find it & check it out (open on sea days) - I believe it's the only mega NCL ships designed with one.  

 

I can see that dress code, as expected, is resort casual - trying to remember if any of the specialty restaurant has a stricter & enforced policy on the Epic.  11 days will be gone before you know it - enjoy each & every day and those precious time.  They're amazingly fast with laundry turnaround time and you can probably do another load, just in time before disembarkation with nearly all fresh & clean clothing to wear for your land visits ahead.   

 

Casual dress.  No one I’ve noticed with anything resembling a sport coat.  Long pants in LeBistro, but haven’t been there yet.

 

I’m in the minority, but LeBistro is my least favorite Specialty Restaurant!  Still, I have a voucher.  

[graphicguy]

And, we’re in Florence….

[graphicguy]

[mking8288]

Missing that classic cheesecake to go with the expresso ?? 

[graphicguy]

3 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Missing that classic cheesecake to go with the expresso ?? 

Oh Yeah!

[graphicguy]

These two had  a heckuva fight,,,,,

[Tyskie]

20 hours ago, lepidoptera said:

I keep debating trying La Cucina again and I think I might just give it a whirl next month. 

We've been eating at La Cucina since the restart and have been pleasantly surprised by the quality - Give it a go.

[graphicguy]

So, Cirqua Terra was a “no go” today given I have a heel blister that’s sizable and quite raw.  Band-Aids are useless.  

 

Not holding out hope,  but my Concierge is trying to get me a refund.

 

Anyway, resting the foot on board today.  Hopefully Cannes is a-ok tomorrow!

 

Take a minute to give a few tips for Florence!

 

a). the REAL leather goods in Florence is extremely high quality.  And, most leather artisans have their own shops, with their workrooms clearly visible.  The quality of the work and the leather is readily apparent.  Both are beyond reproach!

 

If you wander into a shop, regardless of whether they advertise as being “real Italian”, and the “leather” smells like soap and is shiny, it’s probably the lowest quality leather (mix?) you will find.

 

Further, while not PC, of the shop is run by anyone other than an Italian (easy to tell), stay away!

 

b). Florence Gold…see above but replace “leather” with “gold”!

 

c). don’t be in a hurry.  Your baristas and wait staff aren’t.  Not a knock, it’s just their way of life.  They savor and take their time doing it!

 

d). Do dine in little trattorias with limited menus (preferably printed only in Italian).  That’s where you’ll find the best authentic Italian food.

 

e). don’t assume so, but most stores and restaurants speak english.  Not all, but most!

 

f). stay away from street people selling belts, trinkets or toys.  Italians frown on these people because they hassle the tourists.  Don’t engage or encourage them!

 

g). public restrooms are rare and mostly in disrepair.  Plus, they cost at least a euro to use.  Expect to buy a restaurant’s food/drink if you want to use their restrooms!

 

h). if you’re on a tour or long bus ride, and have access to a bathroom, use it.  The ports and the town centers are pretty far apart!

 

Hope some of this is helpful! 

 

 

[DCGuy64]

4 hours ago, graphicguy said:

So, Cirqua Terra was a “no go” today given I have a heel blister that’s sizable and quite raw.  Band-Aids are useless.  

Oh no, sorry to hear about the blister, my friend. Hope it heals quickly. See if you can find some Compeed somewhere. It works well. And perhaps a spot of Bourbon (for "medicinal purposes only," of course). Great tips you have there, all of them spot on. Another thing in Florence: if you like steak, try the Bistecca Fiorentina. Some places have a minimum order of 800g, and that's almost 2 lbs of steak. Yummy as can be!

[schmoopie17]

39 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

 And perhaps a spot of Bourbon (for "medicinal purposes only," of course). 

Assuming you can fit your heel into the neck of the bottle. 

[DCGuy64]

10 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

Assuming you can fit your heel into the neck of the bottle. 

🤣 Or you could soak a cotton ball and dab it on the blister. Or, you know, just drink it! 😉

[Sugar Magnolia]

Another vote here for Compeed. I pack that and Glide stick for long hiking trips. Have not tried the Bourbon treatment yet.

[schmoopie17]

33 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

🤣 Or you could soak a cotton ball and dab it on the blister. Or, you know, just drink it! 😉

I'd hate to waste good bourbon by having a cotton ball soak it up. 

[graphicguy]

Curious…trying to get some 20s-50s for tips.  2nd time I’ve tried.  And, they say they can only exchange or break bills at certain times.  

 

Eh…what?

 

Trying to give money for their employees.  Bovine feces!!!! 

[jsn55]

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Curious…trying to get some 20s-50s for tips.  2nd time I’ve tried.  And, they say they can only exchange or break bills at certain times.  

 

Eh…what?

 

Trying to give money for their employees.  Bovine feces!!!! 

Yeah, I was delighted to read that Epic has a machine for 'change', but soon realized that it may or may not work.  I'd rather stand in line at the bank on my way to the airport than diddle with Epic.  So much technology available, still petty issues every time you turn around.  A cruise ship could easily set up a system where you put an app on your phone or keycard and beam over a tip to a crew member whenever you wanted.  

[JIMESOPUS]

8 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Curious…trying to get some 20s-50s for tips.  2nd time I’ve tried.  And, they say they can only exchange or break bills at certain times.  

 

Eh…what?

 

Trying to give money for their employees.  Bovine feces!!!! 

We went to the Casino on the Star, they have a bill breaker / ATM available all the time, even when they are closed

Edited October 11, 2023 by JIMESOPUS

[Sugar Magnolia]

6 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Curious…trying to get some 20s-50s for tips.  2nd time I’ve tried.  And, they say they can only exchange or break bills at certain times.  

 

Eh…what?

 

Trying to give money for their employees.  Bovine feces!!!! 

 

My goal on the cruise is try to spend the least amount of time at Guest Services as I can. If I am able to avoid that desk for the entire cruise, then I deem it a successful trip.

 

Life is like visiting the NCL Guest Services Desk...you never know what you're going to get.

 

[graphicguy]

ATMs are non-functioning, too!  Trying to figure out the reason for making it so difficult

to change money.  Can’t come up with one!

 

Frustrating!!!!

[DCGuy64]

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

Bovine feces!!!! 

LOL, well played.

[schmoopie17]

1 hour ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

Life is like visiting the NCL Guest Services Desk...you never know what you're going to get.

 

Based on experience, I know what I'll get...a whole lot of "NO".

With a side of "There's nothing we can do about that".

Followed by. "Next!"

[graphicguy]

20 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

Based on experience, I know what I'll get...a whole lot of "NO".

With a side of "There's nothing we can do about that".

Followed by. "Next!"

No s#!T

[graphicguy]

Noodle Bar…love this place!!!!!

[graphicguy]

Wondering that itching feeling in your back?  It’s the laundry sticker…LOL!