On the April 19, 2015 Epic TA now

Hi everyone. I am writing from NCL Epic on day 2 of the transatlantic crossing. I am a platinum cruiser having been on over 20 cruises starting with the SS Norway in 1984. All but 2 of my cruises have been on NCL.

I purchased the unlimited internet package today @ $24.99 a day for the remaining 10 days of the cruise. I will post a little about my experience on the Epic so far.

I had an uneventful flight from San Francisco to Miami on Saturday the 18th. I spent the night at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami using my IHG Visa annual free night. I chose this hotel because it is very close to the port and I wanted to get to the port early so I would be one of the first on the ship and be able to purchase a POSH pass. More on that later. I was pleasantly surprised to have been upgraded to one bedroom king suite when checking in. I was very happy with this hotel because the room was very quiet with no noise from the street or the hallway, and the bed was very comfortable.

I took a cab from the hotel to the port and arrived at the port a little after 9am. The cab ride was about $11. As soon as the cabbie popped the trunk a porter arrived and took the luggage from the trunk and put it on the cart to be loaded onto the ship. That was the easiest luggage drop off I have ever experienced. I walked to Terminal C and found out it opens at 9:30am. There were 3 other people waiting that had arrived at 8am. Once the doors opened at 9:30am we had a seat until they were ready to scan the carry ons.

At around 10:30 we went through security and then upstairs to wait to board the ship. I really like that the photographers were set up in the waiting area to take pictures while everyone was waiting to board instead of trying to take everyone's photo as they are tryng to board. The two photographers were very friendly and their was no pressure to get your picture taken 12pm due to special preparations that needed to be done for the transatlantic crossing. Promptly at 12pm they boarded special needs passengers and the Groups 11 through 13. I was group 11 and went onto the ship. I headed straight to Deck 5 Guest Services. From all the posts I had read about the POSH pass I decided I would like to get one. I was the first person in line to purchase the POSH pass. I was informed that the price was $118 due to the length of the cruise. I purchased the pass. I went to the Garden Cafe for lunch and had the roast beef from the carving station which I enjoyed. After lunch it was time to go to my stateroom. I have a mini suite on deck 12. The mini suite is quite spacious and the standard balcony is larger than I expected. The amount of storage space is amazing. The shower over bathtub is very big. After dropping off my carrying I used the stateroom TV to make my entertainment reservations for the entire cruise. The process was very easy. I then went to explore the ship. I went back to my cabin at 3pm and was pleasantly surprised to find that the room steward had placed my luggage on the sofa in the cabin. Very nice! I quickly unpacked and then went to the lifeboat drill. My muster station was in the Spiegel tent. After the muster drill I decided to use my POSH pass for the sail away party. I used my keycard which had been programmed to access the POSH area on Deck 18 when I purchased the pass. It was not crowded at all and there were many padded loungers available. Unfortunately I found that there was virtually no shade anywhere to be found except when sitting at one side of the bar. There is really no way use a lounger and get a break from the sun as there are no umbrellas and no pool in the POSH area. After about 30 minutes they made an announcement that the sail away was delayed until 6pm. At about 5:30pm the Carnival Splendor sailed past, then the Carnival Breeze, and then at 6pm it was out turn.

I had 6:30pm reservations for Moderno and arrived shortly after 6:30. The restaurant is very large and I was seated right away. About 5 tables were occupied in the restaurant I went to the salad bar and then turned my card to green. The servers started bring out all of the meets one by one and the service was very good. I was done with the meal at 7:30pm and was thoroughly stuffed.

I decided that the POSH pass was not really what I thought it would be so I went to guest services and received a refund which was cheerfully issued. I noticed that a total 12 POSH passes had been sold.

I dropped by Headliners and watched a little of Howl at the Moon which was very entertaining.

I had made reservations for Legends in Concert at 9:30pm. I arrived at 9pm and got a good seat. The artists were Rod Stewart, Sting, and Gloria Estafan. Unfortunately I found the production to be extremely loud. It was at least twice as loud as any other cruise production I have seen. I left early once my ears started ringing.

I walked through the casino and many people were playing the machines. I really dislike cigarette smoke and I was happy to find a non-smoking section. Even walking through the rest of the casino, the smoke was only slightly noticeable.

I intend to post Day 2 tomorrow. Let me know if you have any questions and if I can, I will provide an answer.

Thank u......r u just doing the TA? or and the Med cruise too? My bucket list is to do a TA with a Med cruise following. Can't wait for more!!!!![emoji12][emoji12][emoji12]

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I am just doing the TA. Then I am spending 1 night in Barcelona before flying back to San Francisco. I would stay longer but I will need to get back to work.

Following. I am boarding the Epic on May 13th:D

Who are the Senior Bridge and Hotel Officers?

I am just doing the TA. Then I am spending 1 night in Barcelona before flying back to San Francisco. I would stay longer but I will need to get back to work.

Sounds wonderful....another question....sorry.... What hotel in BCN? And ur flights went thru NCL? How much for both?

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Following this one! Have a smooth crossing!

Hi, we are also with you on the TA. We are on the 9th floor in a Mini suite too. I know they say either you love the flowing look and feel of the staterooms or you hate them. I am not a big fan but hey we are on a cruise so we deal with it. For those of you following the controversy of having a fee added to room delivery, we DO NOT have it. IF you order drinks (from the bar, non alcoholic or not) you will be charged 18% grat/svc charge. As far as I have seen we do not have the extended menu just the usual continental breakfast items available. Make sure you get a sticker for your stateroom card if you have the UBP or the UDP. Makes it easier so that you don't have to constantly have your bill adjusted as we had to do for the past two nights dining. Make your reservations for dining ahead of time on line or expect to stand in long lines here. As soon as you get into your stateroom go on the Tv and make your reservations for the shows. Or stand in another long line to do so onboard. On the first day you can have laundry sent out for 50% off (guess you might arrive with dirty laundry if you are on BB cruises) so I hope that they offer one mid trip too. Hubby just got back from the gym and he said it is a mad house. People packed in like sardines, some of the machines not working but people trying to use them anyway, and lines for people waiting to use the equipment. No fans either so the air is stale and the room very hot. Guess we will take walks instead this tour.

Hmm what other tidbits can I tell you? We got the unlimited internet package as my husband has to grade papers while we are at sea. It works fine and very rarely has he had problems. Slow but dependable. $279 for the 11 days I think.

I agree with you that the show was way too loud but we travel with earplugs wherever we go. Must be his AF pilot background needing the protection. And to us, the show room reeked of cigarette smoke. I asked someone why and he said that left of the stage, behind the wall is a smoking area. SO don't sit to the left of the stage, it was better somewhat on the other side. Still made my eyes water.

Don't feel crowded and we have 3100 people. Getting an elevator is not a problem just a few minutes wait. Staff seems happy and cheerful. Same goes for the people on the ship.

What I don't like about the ship is that I never see the water unless we are eating or in our room. As you walk on many of the levels you don't see windows, it is dark to me and closed in but again we are on a cruise and so what?

If I can answer any questions please just ask. We will be on the cruise, then a week on the Costa del sol, then on the princess emerald for a two week cruise from Barcelona to Istanbul.

I need to say that I may "complain" about something on the cruise so that others may know what is here/happening/whatever but that does not mean I am not happy to be here. I love that I am on vacation for the next six weeks but that does not mean that all will be perfect. So ask away and I will be honest with you.

The Captain is Frank Jullussen. The hotel director is Richard Janicki.

Following. Thanks for posting.

Following. Thanks for posting.

timesurfer7 mentioned the unlimited internet plan which (to me) is one of the best things NCL has done lately. The internet is not anywhere as slow as it was in Nov. I don't know if just fewer users. I've no trouble getting web anywhere. I'm on the spa balcony right now. On the first day, we heard 3100 people, but at the M&G we were told 3600, but on a ship this size, what's 500 more or less?

Thanks for the tip on the smoke! Great bunch of crew, staff, and passengers!

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Yes the internet is great compared to our cruise to Hawaii. Just to be able to get on cruise critic is a plus!!!

High on my bucket list is a TA. I will be following and hope that you have a wonderful cruise!

Keep us posted!

Thanks for the post!

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Let me know if you have any questions and if I can, I will provide an answer.

I'm not a nervous traveller, nor am I especially prone to motion-sickness; but I am wondering - is it weird to think about being so far from land? and is the ship "swishy" due to being on the open ocean?

You should try being in the middle of the Pacific. Going out in the middle of nowhere is what ships do. And the ship is no more "swishy" than anywhere else on the ocean.

Joining in.

We will be on the Epic on May 27th.

Getting excited:)

Always nice to get news, update & "live" info from those onboard, especially on a TA crossing. What's the weather & sea / wave conditions as those are always good to know, speed of the ship in knots (Ship NAV Channel 21, I think it is) ?

We're on the Breakaway a month ago & just this week, seemed to be seeing a newer O'Sheehans menu ... Shepard's Pie replacing Chicken Pot Pie, more variety of hotdogs now available, and a Soup of the Day / Sandwich of the Day being added. Would you share what's on your sailing at OSH?

Safe crossing, calm seas and great weather with you & others on the Epic. Thanks :cool:

We board when you arrive in Barcelona for the 3 nighter.......can't wait- hearing from people on board now just makes it more exciting! !! Safe travels!

Can you that are on first few cruises come back and tell us how they are playing the V.A.T Sales tax this season. Please... [emoji3]

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Just got off the Epic.

Remarkable journey. Superb staff people. Quiet ship. Good eats.

One may eat at O'Sheehans for breakfast and have waiter service, ditto Taste from 8-10, or one may help oneself at Garden Cafe from crack o' dawn 'till 11ish. Then it's time for lunch!

You'll enjoy it more if you meet people and speak to the staff.

Go Wolverines Trivia Team!

Can you that are on first few cruises come back and tell us how they are playing the V.A.T Sales tax this season. Please... [emoji3]

 

 

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Boarding on Sunday in Barcelona - will let you know :)

I will be on the Epic July 1st. I would greatly appreciate dailies and menus for the main dining rooms.

I will be on the Epic July 1st. I would greatly appreciate dailies and menus for the main dining rooms.

I will definitely have the dailies and will scan them and post them on the board and I will try and get the main dining room menus but may not manage each one as we have the UDP but I'll do my best :)