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

[Sugar Magnolia]

40 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Have to share this while it’s still fresh

 

Went to the shop to get some way overpriced aspirin for the painful blister.

 

Go to the cashier and there’s a lady choosing between about a dozen $2 charms.  

 

After 5 mins of watching this, I ask the cashiers if I can just pay for the aspirin while she’s busy choosing.  He says he already started ringing her  up. She states she’s almost done.

 

5 deep at the counter and another 5 minutes. I put the aspirin on the nearest counter and decide my pain is more tolerable than that whole scene!

 

Funny not funny...am sure you needed something stronger than aspirin after that scene.

 

How did we miss painkillers on your packing list?

 

[schmoopie17]

2 hours ago, graphicguy said:

 A few warts here and there

 

And a giant blister. Does the ship have a dermatologist?

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Funny not funny...am sure you needed something stronger than aspirin after that scene.

How did we miss painkillers on your packing list?

LOL ... @graphicguy Dan, too bad as you could've speed dial me on #611 had we been on the sailing together and I would've "dispense" them, at no charge, from our stockpile to you.  Hope your feet is feeling better and if not, see that friendly bartender at Haven for liquid infusion 😊 😆 😉 

 

Seriously, I don't recall if the Epic's medical center has the coin-operated DIY self-service machine for OTC meds, usually no lines & no wait, as long as they are stocking them in the inventory.  

Edited October 12, 2023 by mking8288

[graphicguy]

And….we’re docked back in Marseille!  
 

Have some traveling to do as I’m meeting family back in Italy for more festivities.  So, posts might be sparse, But I promise to make more.  

 

Not quite ready to get off the ship.  But, the  announcements of “luggage tag colors” are a constant reminder I have to leave!!!  

[graphicguy]

au revoir…

[graphicguy]

UBER line is WAY shorter than the taxi line….

[graphicguy]

Was able to check into my hotel early.  I am near MRS for my flight (back to) Rome tomorrow.  I go from one extreme to the other.  My stay for the night….

 

[graphicguy]

Will take as train from ROME to CORTONA to meet up with my family for another couple of weeks.

 

So, feeling sort of homeless right now.

[graphicguy]

While I have time, let me see if I can put some thoughts down about the cruise while they’re fresh….

 

SHIP…

I mentioned I had sailed on the EPIC when she was relatively new over a decade ago.  Loved her then.  Love her now.  In all frankness, I don’t see where she’s had much wear.  Some have reported rust and worn carpets.  Didn’t see any of that, and I was ALL OVER the ship.  I did spend a considerable amount of time in the Haven, but spent as much, or more, roaming the rest of the ship.  In brief, she’s in great shape.

 

This is a big ship.  4,200+ guests.  1,700-2,000 crew.  It was NCL’s first “Mega-Ship”!  Easy to navigate.

 

ENTERTAINMENT….

Small pools…some kids water park features. A rock wall, that doesn’t look like it’s in use, and hasn’t been for a while.  Water slides that are fun, although I don’t base a ship on its slides.

 

Casino…exactly what you’d expect….lots of machines, good amount of table games.  
Shockingly little cigarette smell.  Much better ventilated than the Away ships.  They must have found a system that controls the smoke smell.  Certainly there was no smoke that carried to other decks (like you’ll also find on the Away ships).

 

Played table games only, and that was only Hold’Em cash games.  Typical players for Hold’Em…You have the drunks, the stupid, those who try to look the part, but can’t play the part.  Then, you have me.  The guy who’s been playing for a while and can do well against the drunk, stupid and pretenders, but has a more difficult time against those who know what they’re doing.  I have more fun playing against the latter.  The former?  I feel like I’m baby sitting them.  I broke even.

 

Poor odds for BlackJack.  So, didn’t play.  Also didn’t play any tournaments.  Hold’Em tournaments offered rebuys.  In brief, if you’ve got the money, you can keep rebuying to replenish your stack.  But, by the time you do that, your winnings (if any) is pretty skinny.

 

That said, we were in port A LOT and overnight so there was less time to play.  Could be a blessing or a curse.  In any event, I didn’t lose anything.

 

SHOWS…

 

Saw Burn the Floor.  Don’t know how I’ve missed it over all these years.  It was great and received a “Standing O”,  deservedly so. Also saw VOCE…equally good and fits into NCL’s recent smaller, yet high quality shows.  There were solo artists playing around the ship.  All good.  Atrium had the typical movies, trivia, etc.  Always something happening there.  

 

I know there was a RAT PACK show I missed.

 

Caught 2 Beatles shows (early Beatles and Sgt Peppers).  In Cavern club…..Both were great.  Yes, they are so good, get there early to get a seat.  

 

Seen some hand wringing about NCL entertainment changing.  Kind of expected as these shows have a shelf life.  Via contracts finishing, newly developed shows, etc, some of the shows are going away. Glad I was able to see most of them. But, just like Blue Man Group, Rock of Ages, etc, they all have to end sometime.  Anxious to see what comes next.

 

 

FOOD…

 

Taste and Manhattan Room for MDRs.  Manhattan Room has entertainment.  Did not dine in either, so can’t comment.

 

HAVEN restaurant was uniformly great, from service, to the food, to the presentation.  Limited choices, but I didn’t eat there every day, either.  That’s expected.

 

Favorite free venue was Noodles.  Sit at the bar where the chefs are preparing your food. That’s a show in and of itself.  Udon noodles, potstickers, fried rice, etc…made and served fresh.  Popular place so expect a wait.

 

Specialty Dining….ate at…

 

WASABI…..good sushi..enjoyed it

Moderna Churrascaria…good…better than I expected.  Salad bar is the star, but even the flank steak was tender and flavorful.

Cagneys….always good service, always good steaks, what’s more to say

LaCucina….this was the surprise to me.  I had heard this was mediocre.  I have been eating in authentic restaurants the entire cruise.  This ain’t that.  But, it’s way better than the other comparisons I read about like Olive Garden.  Liked it, a lot.

 

HAven Restaurant was really good.  Surf and turf, to seafood, to prime rib….all of it uniformly as good as anything on any ship in any restaurant.

 

O’Sheehans was the forefather of “The Local” on later ships.  Hungry at 3:00 p.m. or 1:00 a.m.?  This is where you go.  It’s bar food…good bar food….wings, burgers, etc.  Sometimes it’s also a good alternative to the Buffet or even an MDR.  I even liked it for breakfast sometimes.

 

Coming up…..ports and excursions as well as Haven……

 

[lepidoptera]

Thank you for your review! Really enjoyed following along with you, 

 

[jsn55]

Can't thank you enough for the wonderful posts!  I board EPIC in Marseille on Monday 10/16, so I was surprised that your cruise 'ended so early'.  Doubtful that the ol' girl will just relax for the weekend, so probably off for a quick jaunt somewhere.  Can't wait to read your 'final' review and pick up all the good tips.  Enjoy Italy, tough not to enjoy Italy!

[Sugar Magnolia]

2 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Will take as train from ROME to CORTONA to meet up with my family for another couple of weeks.

 

So, feeling sort of homeless right now.

 

Perhaps you can join us on the Getaway transatlantic on your return to the States. Though Haven is sold out, you can book a club balcony suite for a pittance.

 

[graphicguy]

33 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

Perhaps you can join us on the Getaway transatlantic on your return to the States. Though Haven is sold out, you can book a club balcony suite for a pittance.

 

Temptress!!!!!!!  LOL!

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, jsn55 said:

Can't thank you enough for the wonderful posts!  I board EPIC in Marseille on Monday 10/16, so I was surprised that your cruise 'ended so early'.  Doubtful that the ol' girl will just relax for the weekend, so probably off for a quick jaunt somewhere.  Can't wait to read your 'final' review and pick up all the good tips.  Enjoy Italy, tough not to enjoy Italy!

My pleasure!

 

There are only 700 Rugby fans and promoters boarding today.  You should be boarding after an abbreviated cruise that is sparsely populated!

 

Can’t wait to hear about your journey!

[DCGuy64]

3 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Will take as train from ROME to CORTONA to meet up with my family for another couple of weeks.

 

So, feeling sort of homeless right now.

That is awesome! I wish we had time to spend a week or two in Italy after our cruise, but that'll have to wait. I'm saving up vacation time for a 60th birthday trip to France next year. Have a lovely time in Cortona. Feel free to post anything about your trip, even if it isn't technically the cruise part.

[graphicguy]

20 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

That is awesome! I wish we had time to spend a week or two in Italy after our cruise, but that'll have to wait. I'm saving up vacation time for a 60th birthday trip to France next year. Have a lovely time in Cortona. Feel free to post anything about your trip, even if it isn't technically the cruise part.

OK….Just had lunch at a French Deli.  It’s run by two older sisters.  One does the cooking, the other the cleanup and “waitressing”.  They spoke no English.  I speak little of my long forgotten French I took in college.  

 

I pointed to a picture on their menu.  It was a simple salad with salmon.  Not knowing anything to get to drink, I ordered a Coke.  They refused to serve me a coke with Salmon.  It was white wine or sparkling water.  No soft drinks though.

 

They ended up giving me a piece of apple pie because they said it was the last piece.

 

I LOVE IT!

IMG_1652.heic

[DCGuy64]

47 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

They refused to serve me a coke with Salmon.  It was white wine or sparkling water.

LOL, bravo. It warms my heart to know that French people still think highly enough of their cuisine that they won't even allow someone to sully a beautiful piece of fish by pairing it with a lowly soft drink. (No disrespect to you, BTW, I have very often been known to eat dozens of delicious Italian dishes washed down with Coke!) I'm curious (if you know) what kinds of coffee they've been serving you. I'm a big fan of Illy and Lavazza, but I often see Kimbo, Segafredo and others while in Italy.

[graphicguy]

5 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

LOL, bravo. It warms my heart to know that French people still think highly enough of their cuisine that they won't even allow someone to sully a beautiful piece of fish by pairing it with a lowly soft drink. (No disrespect to you, BTW, I have very often been known to eat dozens of delicious Italian dishes washed down with Coke!) I'm curious (if you know) what kinds of coffee they've been serving you. I'm a big fan of Illy and Lavazza, but I often see Kimbo, Segafredo and others while in Italy.

Never asked.  The coffee’s (actually espressos)  have been universally excellent, regardless of country!

[DCGuy64]

5 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Never asked.  The coffee’s (actually espressos)  have been universally excellent, regardless of country!

How was the brew on board the Epic? When we sailed her, I lowered myself to drink the Melitta swill (the coffee itself isn't bad, BTW, I've made it at home and it was fine, but somehow it was bitter on the Epic). And I don't drink Charbucks.... 😞

[bluesea777]

34 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

And I don't drink Charbucks.... 😞

 

Best quote of the day!

 

 

[jsn55]

6 hours ago, graphicguy said:

OK….Just had lunch at a French Deli.  It’s run by two older sisters.  One does the cooking, the other the cleanup and “waitressing”.  They spoke no English.  I speak little of my long forgotten French I took in college.  

 

I pointed to a picture on their menu.  It was a simple salad with salmon.  Not knowing anything to get to drink, I ordered a Coke.  They refused to serve me a coke with Salmon.  It was white wine or sparkling water.  No soft drinks though.

 

They ended up giving me a piece of apple pie because they said it was the last piece.

 

I LOVE IT!

IMG_1652.heic 1.39 MB · 1 download

OMG, Coke with lunch ... they must have been stunned!  "un carafe d'oo" is what you wanted, unless you like designer water.  You've given me my laugh for today!!  French 'apple pie' is really something; after pain chocolate, the first thing I will have in France.  Tomorrow!!

 

[jsn55]

7 minutes ago, jsn55 said:

OMG, Coke with lunch ... they must have been stunned!  "un carafe d'oo" is what you wanted, unless you like designer water.  You've given me my laugh for today!!  French 'apple pie' is really something; after pain chocolate, the first thing I will have in France.  Tomorrow!!

 

I'm in London for a couple of nights, flying to Marseille tomorrow.  Ordered a glass of ice water with my lunch today and got a big glass full of water ... with 4 tiny ice cubes!  I had forgotten how things are in Europe when it comes to ice!  I've learned in hotels without ice machines to ask the bar for an 'ice bucket' of ice so I have enough for the afternoon and evening.  The Europeans think we're all nuts about ice.

 

And before I forget, if anyone needs a hotel at Heathrow, Terminal 4 Premier In is just a terrific place.  "My" Hilton is just up the skybridge, but Premier is excellent, at half the price all the way around.  I often get fab deals on hotel rooms with cash/points, but then am clobbered with $35 pieces of John Dory sole for dinner ... alacarte!  I'll never forget that meal at LHR T4 Hilton; John Dory sole is my favorite in the world ... reading the menu, I just threw up my hands and ordered two sides and dessert too.  .Premier really knows how to run a hotel.   My room is under a hundred bucks, and an enormous chicken cobb salad today at Premier (with ice water!) was less than $13.  

[graphicguy]

My hotels….both in Marseille are really “skimpy”.

 

This one I’m in now…Hotel B&B Hotel Marseille Aéroport St Victoret, again, no wash cloths.  A small towel (as in ONE)….$186/nite because it’s close to the airport.

 

Thd one saving grace, it was close to this museum, which I thought was cool.

[graphicguy]

2 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

How was the brew on board the Epic? When we sailed her, I lowered myself to drink the Melitta swill (the coffee itself isn't bad, BTW, I've made it at home and it was fine, but somehow it was bitter on the Epic). And I don't drink Charbucks.... 😞

I drank mostly the French Press coffee in the Haven.  That was good. 

 

Surprisingly, the Nespresso machines in the cabin also made good coffee.

 

I avoid the coffee in the Garden Cafe!

[ellenw]

5 hours ago, jsn55 said:

I'm in London for a couple of nights, flying to Marseille tomorrow.  Ordered a glass of ice water with my lunch today and got a big glass full of water ... with 4 tiny ice cubes!  I had forgotten how things are in Europe when it comes to ice!  I've learned in hotels without ice machines to ask the bar for an 'ice bucket' of ice so I have enough for the afternoon and evening.  The Europeans think we're all nuts about ice.

 

 

We were in Oslo last summer, at a bar in the train station. We asked for ice water (in addition to our beers), and got a glass of cold water, no ice. When asking for lots of ice in the water, the bartender said "oh, you want American ice water". It was a fun exchange. I've asked for American ice water in several cities overseas.