Pre-Trip Med on the Epic in July

Background

I have never written an extensive review before...so please bear with me...any helpful advise/comments/questions are welcome.

My travel buddies (family) consist of Me(46) in the medical field, HUGE planner, but I am usually very chill and flexible once underway.

Wife(46) engineer, a bit annal and HATES to plan but tends to stress at last minute...drives me crazy

Daughter (13) very smart, funny, and chill...a history geek

We are not really "cruisers," but have been on 4 short DCL cruises to the Caribbean and 1 on RCCL FOS. We usually go to Disney World every 2 years or so...overdue for our Disney fix, but decided to see more of the world the last few years.

Last year we spent Spring Break in London and Paris. I planned and booked to entire trip, used mostly TripAdv$^ and we had a GREAT time. Everything went smooth like butter...even when it didn't. To give you an idea of our interests I will give a short review.

We live in Detroit and I find it MUCH cheaper to fly international out of Windsor or Toronto than Detroit. Last year to London was out of Windsor/Toronto/London ($665pp US.) We stayed 5 days at the Park Plaza Westminster...WONDERFUL hotel. Bus stops right outside, MANY sites walking distance. Here was our view...

I don't mind paying more for what I "value added." But, I don't like to throw money away. This view was worth the premium. We tend to prefer Suites because of our daughter, it gives her and us a bit of privacy. She is not old enough to be left to her own.

We then took the Train to Paris and stayed at a smaller boutique hotel The Hotel de Varenne.

(to be cont.)

Liked reading about your family and past travel experiences. I definitely have used Tripadvisorvin my planning. I am close to your age and went with my husband and 13 year old son on the Epic in the Med last summer. Looking forward to reading more of your experiences.

Thanks for the report.

So, now you know a bit about us and my writing style, I can get to the meat of the planning. I am having a hard time uploading pics using photo bucket...if anyone has any suggestions, it would be most welcome.

We decided, as a family, to go back to Europe for our summer vacation 2016. I had us all write out top 3 must-see, and started to try and work out Dates, Cruise lines, itineraries, and of course a budget. K works at a Big Three and is forced to take at least 2 weeks of summer vacation during "shut down," so our dates are pretty much set...the first few weeks of July to is.

K listed Rome, Barcelona, and "anywhere in authentic Italy" whatever that means. DD's must-sees Pompeii (we spent Thanksgiving in Toronto and a day at the Pompeii exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum...it was fascinating to say the least,) Venice, and Rome. My must-sees were Rome, Barcelona, and Pompeii.

With this information, I set to work.

DCL is our fav/first choice. But, alas in July no Med...Dover, St Petersburg, etc.

Next RCCL, has a couple of options. My biggest limitation is timing. I have to work on July 4th then off for next three weeks, and K is off July 2-18...so window for Embarkation for a week long cruise is July 7th-10th. This is gonna be tight. There is a Greece and Turkey on the Jewel and a Western Med on the Harmony (this one has potential!)

So, Harmony sails out of Rome on July 7th. Goes to all our must sees except DD's Venice. I look to price it out...and NOTHING! NADA! No Balcony Rooms for three...DD is now considered an adult! Just for the heck of it I priced out a cabin for 2 at just under 6k.

Next on the list is NCL. Looks promising. A lot more options. Seems NCL Epic has kind of a rolling Embarkation. Rome on the 6th (cutting it too close would arrive same day,) Marseille on the 9th , or Barcelona on the 10th. I priced out the last two options and found Embarkation out of Marseille to much more limited. No aft Balconies (which is our first choice having had one on RCCL FOS and LOVED it!) only a few midships left. I was able to snag a corner aft (11313) on Barcelona sailing leaving on July 10th for less the Harmony would be for 2.

Now, to see how much airfare from Detroit...OUCH! More than the cruise! To add insult to injury...no direct flights to Barcelona from Detroit. But, thanks to a savoy-well travelled co-worker who is from the UK and goes back and forth home often, I knew to check flights out of Toronto or Windsor. I got a direct flight out of Toronto (a four hour drive) for less the HALF the cost! The Windsor leg would have added $250 pp...so $750. We figured the difference was worth the drive time. We leave on the red-eye July 6th, arrive in Barcelona on the 7th at 8am.

We are staying in Barcelona at the Casa Camper for 3 nights pre-cruise.

(to be cont)

just trying to get some pics to upload...here a are few from a long ago Disney cruise. Secret deck 7 aft deck, sunset from our balcony, and DD being goofy.

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I think I am getting the hang of it...

Alright, got the picture thing down.

The next step was researching the Epic and ports. This board, along with TripAd$&%^ have been invaluable.

When I booked the cruise I got to pick 2 "freebies." I chose the Dining Package and the Drink package. We are not big drinkers, so are probably actually going to lose money on this one. We will enjoy the dining package, I think.

A few more facts about us...we are vegetarians for about three years now. Well, my wife is more strict but does eat eggs and cheese...my DD and I will occasionally eat fish or seafood. So, technically I guess we are pescatarian. We have always had the rule, if we go to a Chinese restaurant you have to get Chinese, if we go to a mexican restaurant you have to get mexican food...we always took DD to nice restaurants and expected her to behave appropriately and NO chicken fingers or pizza. She now has a very well rounded palate and appreciation of all kinds of different ethnic foods, for a teenager.

I know we have to pay extra for her to eat with us in the prime restaurants, if she wants. She is good at making friends and I anticipate we will not see a ton of her in the evenings. She is looking forward to the teen club. Last cruise she spent a good amount of time in the kids club on the DCL Wonder. I am curious how they will compare.

We will see. This cruise/vacation will be the busiest and port intensive we have ever done.

(to be cont)

The only thing about the Teen Club is they lump 13-17 year old together. My ds who was just 13 didn't participate because he didn't feel comfortable hanging with 17 year olds. However, he met kids at the sports court, water slides, and playing chess.

Hi Jewelmick! My family is on the cruise right before yours - leaving Barcelona on the 3rd. We're also not big cruisers, but have been on 3 cruises with Disney, which were all awesome. I've lived in Italy and Switzerland, but the rest of the family hasn't traveled as much so we thought that the cruise might be a good way to ease into Europe. I'm also the uber-planner in my family so I've been lining up itineraries and booking tickets :) I'm interested to hear what you have planned as well! It sounds like it should be a wonderful experience.

We sail on the Epic from Barcelona in 12 days. Squeee!

If you have any questions, especially after we're back, I'm happy to help! Planning is almost as awesome as the trip.

Very much enjoying your review/trip report.

Keith

Wish July was here to read the rest of your review! Oh wait, I don't wait for July to be here because that would mean MY Med cruise would be over! [emoji17] Cheers to months of planning and then a fabulous vacation! [emoji568]

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The only thing about the Teen Club is they lump 13-17 year old together. My ds who was just 13 didn't participate because he didn't feel comfortable hanging with 17 year olds. However, he met kids at the sports court, water slides, and playing chess.

That's a big age gap. My daughter will actually be just shy of 14 on the trip and CAN actually be pretty mature. She's very smart, kinda a geek (in a good way, we all are)...she plays sports too. If there are good kids on board, she will find them. But, really this cruise is so port intensive anyway, it will be good either way. We all three like hanging out together, I just wanted a bit of spa time and want her to not feel excluded.

Hi Jewelmick! My family is on the cruise right before yours - leaving Barcelona on the 3rd. We're also not big cruisers, but have been on 3 cruises with Disney, which were all awesome. I've lived in Italy and Switzerland, but the rest of the family hasn't traveled as much so we thought that the cruise might be a good way to ease into Europe. I'm also the uber-planner in my family so I've been lining up itineraries and booking tickets :) I'm interested to hear what you have planned as well! It sounds like it should be a wonderful experience.

Awesome! I am sure I will have last minute panic questions, and hope we can help one another with planning. I have a lot booked already and will be getting to that shortly. Jump in any time with suggestions and criticism on my planing...please.

Very much enjoying your review/trip report.

 

Keith

t:o Thank you

Wish July was here to read the rest of your review! Oh wait, I don't wait for July to be here because that would mean MY Med cruise would be over! [emoji17] Cheers to months of planning and then a fabulous vacation! [emoji568]

 

 

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Look forward to your opinions on what I have planned.

So, I did a lot of research on Cabin options before booking. When it was just the two of us, we did fine in a portal view cabin...I have a bit of an issue with inclosed species...not quite enough to be a phobia but enough to make me leery of an inside. Our first cruise we upgraded at the port to an outside view and I did fine.

Since then, with a little one, we have opted for a balcony. The cost/value was right for us. My favorite times from past cruises are end of the day drinks on the balcony will DD slept. It gave us the invaluable extra space needed with a toddler.

I have found out the DCL cabins are a bit larger then other cruise lines to accommodate families. The FOS cruise was an oddity, as we had the aft cabin 1700 with the pole, a ton of space, and a huge balcony. I don't think anything of the Epic compares, unless it is a Haven Suite. I priced those out too...OUCH!:eek: DOUBLE the price of the aft balcony.

I have booked out far enough, I was able to snag the aft corner balcony 11313. From what i have gathered is has a larger balcony and easy access to the "secret" side staircase with side view? We don't mind to long walks to restaurants, my only concern is that the cruise is in July and will be hot...I hope the balcony will still get some breeze and be usable in the morning and evenings.

I will probably try the UpSell fairy a couple weeks out...If I can get a deal. Otherwise I think we will be very happy with the aft.

That's my cabin selection process...any suggestions? or comments?

(to be cont...coming next what to do in all the ports?)

Looking forward to your post cruise report. We follow in October. Just a couple of old crumblies.

Itinerary at a Glance

July 6 (W) Toronto

July 7-10 (Th-Su) Barcelona

July 10-17 (Su-Su) NCL Epic

July 11 (M) Sea Day

July 12 (T) Naples Flavors of Sorrento and Pompeii (NCL)

July 13 (W) Rome & The Vatican (NCL Excursion)

July 14 (Th) Florence Pisa & Trolley Ride (NCL Excursion)

July 15 (F) Cannes Private Day Trip to Monaco and Eze (Viator)

July 16 (S) Marseille Lex Baux de Provence (NCL Excusion)

July 17 (Su) Home

This is what I have planned so far...at a glance. I booked the Rome and Cannes, the rest are not yet finalized but pretty well decided. Anyone done these or have any comments?

I have a deep seated fear of missing the boat! I have read a couple of horror stories and have actually had nightmares about is, so prefer cruise line sponsored excursions over self booked. I understand I will pay a premium, but feel it is worth the piece mind. Once, I have been somewhere I don't mind deviating, but for a first time visit, to get my bearings a such, I just feel more comfortable. As you can see, all are with NCL sponsored tours, except the one in Cannes. None of the NCL tours had what I wanted. Eze is a must, and I have zero interest in the casino. I will detail each day separately for feedback.

Barcelona, Spain

The only thing I have really preplanned in Barcelona is the Skip the Line for La Sagrada Familia. We plan to buy the T10 Card and use the public transit. We will see the common touristy sights at a leisurely pass over the three days. Maybe a beach day?

We are staying at the Casa Camper. We had planned a Barcelona trip a few years ago that fell through due to a family illness and have been trying to get there ever since. The Casa Camper was recommended to us by a co-worker and it ranks as #3 on Trip#$#$@. It looks very eclectic and unique. It is in a great location, just a couple of blocks off Las Ramblas and near Placa de Catalunya (a central transportation hub and park.)..The Aerobus from the airport drops off here. Free Wi-fi, breakfast, drinks and stacks.

We can get accommodations cheaper, but for what in included, location, and personal touches the staff seem to give...we decided it was worth it. We will see. :D

I booked the suite which has a separate sleeping area and sitting room with a hammock (DD is ecstatic over this.) Reviews sound like this is a great place to stay.

Monday Sea Day

The Sea Day actually scares me more then than the port days! :p

I have read horror stories of how crowded the Epic feels on Sea Days. Any ideas on how we can minimize this feeling? My daughter will probably hang out in the teen club, swim, and play. She does better in crowds than I do.

I am hoping to get a Spa pass for the day and get a bit of relaxation. Anyone done a couples treatment? any recommendations?

Does a spa treatment get you a pass for the day? or is that separate?

We will have our balcony to retreat to, but would like to enjoy the ship as well. I plan to wake early and take some sunrise pics around the ship.

Best coffee options?

The pool was incredibly crowded on the sea day. my 13 year old ds basically decided to skip the pool that day because it was so crowded. It was ok after traveling throughout the med he needed a quiet day. I did get a spa pass and it was a great place to get away from it all. i got the weekly pass. I dont know if they offer day passes.

Great start!

You will find lots of suggestions here. I did this cruise last year and it was for sure one of my most memorable. At first I hated NCL then after thinking back on it after I got off I decided it wasn't that bad and I booked a second NCL cruise. Wish it were back in Europe but the Caribbean will be fine as I'm doing a land trip to Ireland and Scotland this summer.

If you need help with tour operators let me know! I did everything private as I did back in 2011 and it was fabulous and saved tons of money.

You can never go wrong with an aft corner balcony!!

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Sorrento and Pompei were an incredible combo; we also did Capri and will be going back to Capri in June. Florence and Pisa were fun to see and explore.

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Sounds like you have a lot planned already! The excursions sound great. I'm planning some different excursions - most of the ports we will be doing self-guided "excursions" with some exceptions for tours at the very crowded tourist attractions (Colosseum, Accademia, etc). I completely understand your worry about missing the ship but the cruise ship excursions were a little too pricey for me. My mom is the same way about missing the ship though.

In Barcelona, one of my friends strongly recommended a trip to Montserrat. I think it's about an hour away by train and is absolutely stunning. We unfortunately have very limited time in Barcelona and I don't think we'll be able to make it out there.