Salsa_Sailor

Hello,

 

Try http://www.bahn.de. You can change to english at the top of the page. Depending on time until your vacation it might cost 250 € for two or less. If you like more speed and comfort on german railway try a train called ICE.

 

 

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This example was not the cheapest one. If you don't need flexibility and if you have a lot of time until you travel it might be much cheaper.

 

Just one more recommendation [emoji6]: You have to make a reservation for seats in an additional step. It's not expensive and you might to think about skipping this little amenity, but... Sometimes trains in Germany are very crowded. Reserved seats are nice in such moments [emoji6]

One year ago we visited Palma de Mallorca onboard Norwegian EPIC. We enjoyed a nice Segway-ride which I booked on my own. Within two hours they show you a huge part of the city and give a quick introduction how to use the segway. Cost was about 65 € p.P. and we had a private tour. If you spend a little bit more time, visiting Bellver should be possible.

Just returned from two very nice weeks on Escape and:

 

Yes! There is dinner and dancing in Manhatten every night [emoji2]

 

The music often was swing or jazz, but also rumba and cha cha cha sneaked in [emoji6]. No waltz or other things in need of lots of space.

 

Compared with Epic the space was very good. The size was about 20 x 20 feet or a bit more and the surface was in very good shape. Not feeling like walking on glue or chewing gum. You could slide where necessary. It was like a dance-floor should be. [emoji2]

 

I talked with the maitre'd during the M&G and told her about this good experience. She promised to keep size and conditions. She also said: There is no influence on the music except by the customer. Therefore: Keep asking for your music [emoji2].

 

We never returned to our table with a cold meal waiting. The waiters organized it very well. We never where rushed out of the venue when dessert was finished and where always able to dance a little bit more.

 

On the other hand the waiters managed very well a "faster dinner" when it once was required due to a show starting soon.

 

And the crew at the entrance did a great job also. We never had problems to get a table right beside the dance-floor and therefore never had to waste half of a dance by running to the dance-floor.

 

 

 

 

Ports:

 

Nassau: Shopping - Plus new security policies (beware!!) Had a hard time getting back on the ship b/c I didn't bring my daughters passport when I got off

 

 

 

Wonderful report with awesome pictures [emoji2].

Thank you so much [emoji2].

 

Could you please give some information about the new security policy? We will be on the next sailing and would prefer to know what to do to avoid any trouble [emoji6].

 

Thank you very much.

I bought OBC last February outside the US and had about $50 left. The invoice said they would deliver it by cheque but nothing happened. After some emails and phone calls they decided to put it in my bank account. The exchange rate had changed until they managed the transaction and they gave me this better exchange rate. Waiting some weeks was worth it [emoji2].

Thanks for posting. I am on the Escape in 2 weeks and this answered a lot of my questions. Thanks again for the time you spent.

 

 

Could You please post some photos of the shore excursion order form? I'm very interested in the prices to decide if it is better to make reservations in advance or to book them on board.

 

Thank You very much in advance

I did 14 days in February and it worked fine. Others stayed three weeks and would do it again.

In summer getting a posh pass is a very good advice. They sell very quickly. Might be impossible for the 1st week but with a good connection to the pursers desk it should work for the 2nd week on the last evening of the 1st week.

At one stage they wanted to charge a cancellation fee of €200 but in the end they didn't? I was very pleased but I definately got the feeling that the consultant had to talk to a few people to avoid the extra fee so I don't think the rules are set in stone???

 

 

 

Many rules of a contract may be negotiated as long as the result is not against a law or against things required by the authorities.

 

The problem is to find someone who does not think: The next customer will buy my product without additional wishes. And someone who is in the position for negotiating.

 

But in European travel-laws often exists an additional option. If you can prove after you cancelled that the loss is less than your penalty the cruiseline has to reduce the penalty.

 

You can check a few days before sailaway if the old cabin is sold or if the ship is full. It should work the better the longer you have until your cruise starts but I would only do this for a higher penalty than perhaps for a studio.

Filled out my survey yesterday for the three nights from Barcelona last weekend - the european version I think.

 

There was no question for CC and I had two options to fill in text about the special crew-member and because I rated my experience as very good I was asked to explain this.

 

There was no reason for complaining but... [emoji6]

Last year I booked an EPIC studio at € 799 and started researching because it was my 1st cruise. Two month later the price was € 649 and I called my TA. Answer: We can't do anything, ask NCL. They denied also.

 

The only way is to cancel and loose the deposit. And if you want this special cabin this process comes along with the chance of loosing it to a fellow cruiser.

 

Last Year I decided to keep my cabin within 20 meter distance to the lounge because it was to much trouble for saving perhaps € 50.

 

Today I would perhaps try to get an upgrade because I read somewhere that solo-travelers outside the studio area can get an add on to their key giving access to the lounge. If I could get a balcony it would be worth the little walk [emoji6]

I visited Palma de Mallorca last Friday with the EPIC and had only from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in port.

 

I made an appointment with segwaypalma for two hours at 9 a.m.

From port to their office was a 15 € cab ride and the tour was 65€ p.p.

Introduction into driving was for free and before the two hours began.

 

During the tour we saw every point of interest you can imagine. Because there were no further guests it was a private tour at no additional charge.

 

It was such a great fun. We made the next appointment for Saturday in Marseille 15 Minutes after the tour.

 

If you like activities like this I can fully recommend going on tour by Segway. We will repeat this several times.

 

[emoji41][emoji41][emoji41]

If you just buy the oranges from NCL and squeeze them yourself, there is no VAT to pay!!!

 

 

Why should I buy oranges??? Food is included in the fare ;-)

I left the EPIC yesterday after the 3-night- tour thru Palma and Marseille. As part of the promo I had the UBP and 75 US$ OBC.

 

To get rid of the 75 we drank fresh orange juice twice during breakfast. Net price is 3.75. First morning it was a hand written receipt and only the juice and the gratuity appeared on my account. 2nd morning they added VAT on a computer written receipt and in the account. During the day the 10% disappeared.

 

On UBP drinks was no VAT on the receipt until this orange morning. From this time the receipts stated VAT but it never appeared in the account.

 

It seemed to me like some trouble with the computers. Let's observe how things will go on.

The price for one week is $59 and they sell out very quickly. Try to be in boarding group #1.

I had bought some hundreds in OBC for my cruise in February. Two weeks on the Epic and I was planning to buy two FCCs.

 

After all 49.67 US$ were left. After two Mails I thought buying the FCCs two days before leaving the ship was not a good idea because leftover OBC might be promotional and therefore not refundable but now...

 

I recived the money on my account and to my surprise I earned a bit. I bought in € at an exchange rate of 1.25 US€ for each € and until now it changed to 1.07 US$ per €. Nice win [emoji6].

 

Thanks to NCL and I'm happy to be back on Epic in only two days [emoji41][emoji41][emoji41]

I stayed in the Kent Hotel in 1131 Collins Av. this February for about 130 €. The room was not great but OK for this.

 

It's right behind the Versace Villa and on a Sunday about 24$ from port.

 

A nice garden restaurant belongs to it and WIFI reaches thru the garden.

I was on EPIC for two weeks during this February and after returning I made my next reservation for next week - only four days and I'm back [emoji41][emoji41][emoji41]

If you are living outside the U.S. it might be better to book in advance. NCL pays much better for your £/€ than your Credit Card.

 

Taxes might be a reason too if you start your cruise for example from Barcelona without a stop in a non EU country. NCL has to add sales taxes during the whole cruise. But I don't know anything about exceptions. I think the behind the scenes tour on EPIC was without tax. I'm sure about drinks and drink packages that there was spanish V. A. T. all the time. But I bought the soda package in advance without tax.

One more question.

 

 

 

Who are the typical solo travelers on a 7-night Med cruise? Any security worries about my daughter?

 

 

One more thing to improve security with a 😉:

 

On my cruise to the med three month ago the studio lounge was a nice (because quiet) meeting point for some officers and some security staff.

Today I called NCL in order to receive some answers refering to prepurchased obc and if and how it could be refunded if not used and by the way I asked something about UBP and corks & caps and the representative recommended me to buy the soda package in advance and the fruit juice refills when I'm on the ship. Price 3$ + 15%, no spanish V.A.T.

 

He promised that it would be possible and not beeing removed partly or fleetwide and he said NCL will give a confirmation if I mail a request for this. Now I'm waiting for the reply. :-)

Hello!

 

My 1st cruise will start in a couple of weeks and by reading a lot here and on other boards I had to learn about many differences between a cruise and a land based vacation ;-).

 

I learned much about tipping and prices which are not quoting what you will find on your bill ;-). VAT is one thing, but I could not find good information about the 15% service charge on drinks and let's say corks and caps or UBP.

 

My question is: If the service turns out to be subpar, is it possible to reduce the 15%?

 

May I reduce the 15% if I use corks and caps and service is subpar? I read about soda pack, that some waiters are "not so fast" in refilling drinks compared to customers who pay each drink.

 

If they "allow" tips for excellent service I would like to have oportunities for other expiriences AND will be very happy, when I don't need them.

 

For extra tipping: Will one US$ for each drink be OK? The cruise will be in Europe so should I give € to enable the crew to spent the money in port without costs for exchange?

 

Thank You for every kind of niformation.

Perhaps a german court is guilty ;-). Nearly one week ago one of the higher german courts has decided that splitting the price into one amount for a part of the workers salary (dsc) and another amount for the rest is not OK.

 

Now they have changed the website and ask only for choosing dsc or individual tips. Perhaps rebuilding this german part of their website affected other areas.

Hello

 

For someone who's on a budget http://www.operaramblas.com may be an intresting option. When I visited BCN a few years ago for dancing-lessons, some people of my group stayed there and were satisfied.

 

Not luxury but cheap and very close to the port. Getting there from the airport will last less than one hour and you have to change trains only two or three times. Cost is less than 5$.

 

I will try in September before leaving BCN on NCL Epic :-)

 

 

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