Fantasyprints

Hi All

Going on Escape on Saturday and wondered if anybody noticed if they had the Internet on offer. When I went on Epic if you ordered on first day it was cheaper. Just seeing if cheaper to buy before going.

Paul

Restaurants & food outlets

Before the trip I bought the 5 "specialist" meal package so I never tried Taste or Manhattan. But from what I heard both were good. It was just the atmosphere of them determined which was more popular than the other. Food at both was the same. I only used the buffet for a few breakfasts which surprised me I thought I would use it much more than I did.

If you go to a free restaurant e.g. O'Sheenans they just scan your room card and find you a seat. Buffets you just help yourself - after they have sprayed your hands :)

BREAKFASTS

I tried the outside the buffet a few times they had a reasonable selection of hot and cold and with the weather it was really good place to sit and see what the new part of the world we had cruised to overnight. You can get food from the main buffet and just bring it out which I saw a lot doing as inside they had much bigger selection.

O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill

I had breakfast here a few times it was the same every day. It was OK nothing to right home about. When I first arrived I tried the Nachos and burger and it was great. Never got chance to try evening food but others said was good. This is open 24 hours so if you feel the urge for a burger at 2am you know where to go.

The following restaurants I booked before I came using the NCL website but to be honest I didn't really need to do as never saw a queue or full.

Cagney's Steakhouse

Did this one first night. When I got to it as i was running late thought I would have to wait but I was only 4 tables at 7pm which i was surprised. I checked with the server about what the dining package included just to make sure. He confirmed I could have two starters, main course and two desserts. So I asked his advice and ordered (can't remember exactly what I ordered) but all was great. Service was I think good. Remember I had been drinking cocktails all day so I am surprised I even remember what restaurant I went to.

Moderno Churrascaria (South American)

This was one restaurant I was really looking forward to. The server explained about the red/green card. Basically you have the card facing up GREEN and the server of the meats (think there is 10 different types) which walk around the tables will serve you. Turn RED and they stop. I tried the salad bar and found this one of the best I have ever tried. I was Skyping a friend while at this restaurant (Wifi was working great for this) and lost track of what meats I tried but all I liked.

Teppanyaki (Japanese)

This was a fun experience. You are sited around in a square shared area with cook in middle. They take the main food order, choice, beef, chicken, lobster if I remember correctly. Then the cook just goes through the motions of making the food. Very entertaining and end resent really good. I got Green Tea Icecream at end and it was very good.

La Cucina (Italian)

This restaurant has best location if you can get window seat. Again I asked server their advice and loved what they selected. Next time I will make notes of what I eat but with all the free cocktails a lot of the evening meals are a bit vague :)

Le Bistro -french

This was only place I got told off for wearing shorts! But she let me join my friends. I actually had never been to a French restaurant so I and to take advice from my friends. I tried the snails!! and they were actually really good. Service was good, food great and atmosphere fantastic I thought.

Shanghai's Chinese Restaurant

This I never tried my self by both my friends said it wasn't very good

Spiegel Tent

This is where the Cirque Dreams is performed. When I entered I was asked if I should go upstairs or downstairs. If you want the chance to take part in the show go downstairs if you don't then it's safer to go upstairs. The food you are served is OK nothing special but OK. If I had a choice to watch the show without food I would not pay for the food. This I decided by the way to purchase rather than use my credits.

During the drip I got to meat the head of the bars and restaurant. I was sitting with a friend at the CHampagne and he introduced himself to us and asked us how we were finding the food and drink. We had nothing but praise. His assistant took our names and room numbers. A few days later when I returned to my room there were chocolate covered strawberries and a note thanking us for our comments - I thought this was really a nice gesture.

Overall nothing really to complain about. Good food and service. I would go to each restaurant again and try other food (hopefully remembering what I tried last time).

Paul

Next time EXCURSIONS

BARS and DRINKS

Thanks all for the nice comments sorry for delay in updates been a bit busy but hopefully get a few more done today.

One post mentioned the Solo Events how did you find them I never got a chance. Our NCL team member that looked after us was really good.

I had the Ultimate Drinks Passage included in trip - I think now this is given to all who book the other offers they have online are not anywhere near as good or value as this. I do think this is over priced if you bought as at moment I think it's $79 per day while I see most other cruise companies charge £20-£30 per day. So looks good when you get it for free.

I don't really drink that much (alcohol) so when I arrived on board I hadn't planned to use it much - that changed very quickly :) I decided to try ALL the cocktails on the menu within a few days I had completed the challenge - so started again from the beginning - this went on a few times - I definitely got my monies worth.

You can have any drink $15 or below if the drink is more you just pay the difference. When you order a drink they scan your card. You can't use to buy for others but I would expect it goes on. What isn't covered is branded coffee (you can get normal coffees/teas just lavazza brand), bottled waters and wine machines. If you want you can buy a full bottle of wine and spirits which are really expensive you are better just taking one glass at a time and won't cost you.

So not really an "Ultimate" package. I would say they should include the coffee in the package at least to improve. Other cruise lines are cheaper and don't have as many restrictions I have discovered.

The bars on board that I visited often were...

Whisky Bar

This is best by far not big but what amazed me the bar staff recognised my every time I turned up and knew my name. With 4000 people on board changing weekly how they remembered me as I don't stand out is amazing to me. Ross the main bar tender would always call people their first name then Walker (after Johnny Walker Whisky) so I was known as Paul Walker. In the evening they had a person playing the guitar and I found him very good by one of my friends thought he was terrible - the other who is a music producer thought he was great as well. I went through the cocktail list here several times. The bar area not very big but always a good group of people I met everytime I visited. they have seats that spread around so you can usually find a cosy place to sit and talk.

Champagne Bar

Visited this often not big as well but had a pianist on nearly every night who was good. Not as friendly as the Whisky but always good service. A nice relaxing bar. Again went through all the cocktails a few times.

Wave Bar

This is in the H2O area a very busy bar during the day. I met a few people here from the UK. A nice place. When you are in this area you can just catch the eye of a server and they will take your order and bring to where you are siting or lying.

Studio Bar

Only open a few hours but the same bar tender every night and very friendly. Not wide selection as other bars but still good.

I never got a chance to try other places but there is next year for them :)

Paul

NEXT RESTAURANTS

Thanks for reply. I am going to book Epic again around July/August next year but at moment it's more than twice what I paid. I have Escape booked for this December for caribbean and just booked Getaway for 2017 December. All Studio even though I could of got better cabin but I asked NCL if I paid more could I still access the lounge as I was still Solo but they said it was the cabin that allows access - so saved money :)

STUDIO LOUNGE

Now this is something that I casually thought was a good idea but I didn't think it would play a big part in my cruise or would make me book NCL ships that have this for future - it had that a big impact on me!

As I mentioned at beginning of this post normally I don't meet others on holiday. Not that I am unsociable - well not that much. But normally type of holiday I take I just don't meet up with others. This Studio Lounge solves this if you want to meet others.

Where my cabin was I had to go through the secret entrance twice to get to it but not to far away. I was on deck 12 and it's positioned on deck 11. You can enter on deck 12 and you just go down some stairs within the lounge. I read in the Daily News there was a get together at 5pm so I made my way there from the Whisky Bar (more about this on next post).

There was about 20-30 people at the meeting. All ages, sexes and types. The NCL rep was really good she got everyone to introduce who and where they were from and discovered there was someone from only 20mins from me in the UK! She would organise each night a meal you could go to and various other events which she put on an A frame in the lounge. If you wanted to go to dinner just had to put your name. Each night there were +20 so was well attended. As I had booked the other restaurants I never went but I heard it was a good get together.

Everyone was really friendly and I got speaking to Petri from Finland and Lenny from the USA. Lenny had just joined last minute the cruise. He had planned to go around Spain with friends but they had to cancel last minute so he booked this and at that stage didn't know where the ship was actually going! Found he wasn't most organised person so how he got from the US to Spain is still a mystery. Petri worked in Helsinki for a telecoms company.

In the lounge there is a bar but only manned from 5pm-8pm (I think). There is coffee and biscuits/cookies supplied free. There is a soft drinks machine which has bottles which they charge for - even if you have the drinks package (never saw anybody ever use this). Also I think there were wine machines again, charged and again never saw anybody use. However you could get all I mentioned from the bar free if you had the Drinks Package. We had the same bar tender every night during our cruise who was really nice and kept saying to us we didn't need to keep bringing back our empty glasses he would do that!

After a little while of talking with my new friends I said I wanted to go and see us leave the port - Petri pointed out we had left port 30mins ago!!! Here is the thing during my trip I could never felt any movement. I kept watching glasses and the liquid never moved. I was so surprised and a little disappointed I had never felt us leaving (during my whole cruise I never experienced the ship leaving dock - next time!). Within the lounge there are actually two screens that show view from front of ship and promo videos. Due to where I was siting I couldn't see the screen now showing us at see!

We agreed to meet up every night here during our trip at 5pm and that is what we did and nearly every night we had others join and talk so was a very social environment. This made my holiday meeting others!!

Next post BARS and DRINKS

STUDIO CABIN

My cabin was on deck 12 so I took the lift down.

Now the Studio cabins are in their own section and I think the entrance is secretly hidden from casual passersby as when I reached deck 12 I went past the entrance at least 6 times before I saw it !!

I used my keycard to open the secret door and entered the corridor. First thing i stumbled on was my case! It wasn't yet at my door so I just picked it up and took it to the cabin. Which by the way was 12503 (deck 12 room 503).

Found my room and entered and wow it was really nice and not a cupboard!

The lighting system you can change at the controls to the right of the bed. There is space under the bed for your case. The cupboards had coat hangers for all my shirts. There was a safe, shower and toilet all good size.

Only thing I would say is no USB ports so you will need the normal chargers. Also remember this is an AMERICAN ship not European so remember the correct adaptors.

On the bed there was the Daily News which tells you what is on that day, weather, etc. Very good read as there is lots on for everyone. Also an envelope which has any exertion tickets you have booked. I was wondering how i would get these. Check they are all there when you arrive and put them SAFE!

On the outside of your cabin you have a rotary message you can let the attendant know not to be disturb, ok to clean, turn down. You need to go outside the cabin to change this message. I never actually did anything for the window you can see. I think in future they should really put one of those virtual port hole screens as don't see much point of the current screen system.

i met my attendant who was really nice. Throughout the cruise she always asked how I was what I had done that day. Really friendly and she could sing rather well - you could hear her most days in the corridor.

One thing I was looking forward to was - ANIMAL TOWELS - now I know that seems a bit strange but when I saw other peoples reports they always showed the daily animal. When I first arrived in cabin there was no animal! When I came back later that day there was still no animal! Thought Ok it's just a studio cabin and she is really nice so I won't say anything. Finally later that first day - there was an ANIMAL on my bed!!!! I couldn't hold back my excitement and commented to her and thanked her for it - it had made my day.

Bed was really good - I always thought NCL could of crammed in more cabins and reduced the bed but they haven't. I got extra pillows when I booked FOC - can't remember if I mentioned this. I normally wake up a few times during the night, during cruise I slept like a baby!

Now here is a thing I loved this cabin. It was perfect size, there was virtually no noise from other guests, good location and was always kept clean. So much so when I was offered a bigger inside cabin on a cruise next year for same price as Studio but wouldn't have access to Studio Lounge (thats coming next) I stuck with Studio Cabin.

STUDIO LOUNGE next

EMBARKATION DAY Part 2

Once I boarded which I think was about 12.30pm There was announcements cabins would be available about 1pm. So I just started to wonder around the ship. Couple things to know about Epic. The lifts are only at the front and rear of ship none in the middle. You will find where you are staying you will be using either set more than the other. I found I was using the rear ones due to my cabin location.

I thought I would try out my Drinks Package. But I normally don't drink so I sat down at the Champagne Bar and got the menu. I noticed the cocktails and said to myself I will work through these during my cruise!

I headed along after my first drink and passed casino machines. Surprisingly I will admit I never had time to try any and this is common thread there is so much to do on this ship and I kept saying to myself I will do that but I never did - next year!

Headed up to Deck 15 where the pools and Buffet was. This is where everyone goes so expect to get busy.

QUICK TIP if you want to get something from the buffet at this point go forward once you have your food as they allow you to go down stairs into the Italian restaurant to eat and when I did there was no one there - sign wasn't very standout but worth looking this area out - lovely seats and views.

I wondered up to top walkway and walked around found Spic H20 the adults only area.

This is an area I spent a few hours at a few times but there is something that will start to annoy you as it did for me. TOWEL RESERVATIONS! What I found people got up early each day and put their TOWELS on the sun loungers and from my observations sometimes would only use them a couple of hours each day but leave their towels on. I couldn't see any NCL staff police this as you could see lots of people looking for somewhere to sit and row after tow of towels enjoying the sun rather the humans. I hope NCL start policing this as this is just abused by guests. Only other rant of tour by the way forgot it till I was looking for pictures and remembered all these towels!

I heard an announcement that rooms were available so I thought I would head down and have a look at my cupboard sorry cabin.

Next post STUDIO CABIN

EMBARKATION DAY

Got up on the Sunday quite early for me and went down to breakfast. Again really good so if you are staying at this hotel worth paying for.

After reading on this forum that a good time to get to Port was 11am I decided to get a taxi at 10.30am from hotel. Had a bit of time to kill so went for a wander. Thought go out and see if I was right there was no restaurants nearby so went a different direction - found an Ikea and lots of industrial units so statement stands at moment till someone tells me different this hotel is great except for location for nearby attractions/restaurants.

Checked out and got into taxi at 10.30am and told the taxi driver port and off we went. Now it didn't register with me initially when driver said A or B I said A. After a few mins I realised he must of thought AIRPORT as we weren't going in right direction! Pulled the phone out got the translation program loaded and showed him SHIP PORT and he stopped and turned around and header for Port 1! Good start for the day.

Only took about 20mins to get to port and roads were quite busy with road works. We crossed the bridge to the port and I saw Harmony of Seas was next to Epic a fantastic site - had been reading on that forum about that ship last few weeks.

Once I arrived I worked out you handed your checkin luggage to the NCL staff outside the terminal but I never noticed before you can print off LUGGAGE tags from paperwork you are sent. I had never seen that but it was staring at me now. I told staff I hadn't printed any tags and they said no problem and wrote one and tied to my bag. I then went into the terminal.

I haven't read too many reports about what happens next so will explain the process if you first time cruiser like me. You first go through Spanish customs they check your passport, paperwork and scan you hand luggage and you go through scanners. Just like airport security.

Then you have checkin desks like airports you have ones marked for Haven and Gold and Silver Latitudes cards. Not sure there is a Bronze which I know have. Rest are for us normals. I was directed to a queue which wasn't too long. I was handed a piece of paper to fill in the usual questions, are you a terrorist, have you committed murder last few weeks have you the black plaque normal questions you get on international travel. Of course they never have any pens to fill them in but I always carry a few.

The couple behind me started asking each other if either had a pen and I let them borrow mine. Found they were from London. Got talking while we waited. Found they were first time cruisers as well. Found he was a manager that had taken a change in work and now a taxi driver in London and now has a life. He had planned all his exertions as DIY rather than pay NCL or third party. I met with them several times during the cruise and had great time, more of that later.

Once you get to desk the attendants check your paperwork. They give you the usual plastic "hotel keycard" which is programmed with your credit card if you want to buy anything. This is good as they charge at end of cruise in one go so you don't get charges. Also you can monitor transactions from your cabin, again will say more on this later. The card is printed if you have the Drink Package and any dining which I had 5. Finally you are given a letter for boarding. I think I was given L and at moment they were calling E. Went and sat down.

The room was quite full so I think you could of gotten here at 10am but think they only started boarding at 11am but please correct me if I am wrong. I am a people watcher so I just observed the people I would be spending 7 days with. Quite a selection not the "usual" retired and "welloff" people who don't do cruises think do them.

Boarding letter called and off I went. First thing you are asked to do is get your picture taken in front of a backdrop of ship. This costs you $20 to buy I found out later. Then up the escalators.

Went along the gangways that zig-zag to the ship and you are met with music and cheery NCL staff who like to spray chemicals to kill germs onto your hands, through the trip this kept happening whenever you entered food areas.

At last I entered the ship! And wow it was as good as others have said.

EMBARKATION DAY PART 2 next

BARCELONA

Got up quite early for me 6am on my first day in Spain. I was getting collected at 8.30am for the tour so I headed down for breakfast. You get a great choice and it is very good quality - sorry don't have any pictures. I tried a lot and it was all very delicious. Definitely worth the 13euros. Both hot and cold choices and various fruits and cereals you can have.

When I first booked this tour I got an email back saying the hotel was outside Barcelona and there might be extra costs now I didn't notice this when I booked and the map on hotels.com looked like it was still in Barcelona. Well anyway the tour company came back and said they were picking me up to take me to another location to meet up with main tour and there wouldn't be a charge. Location of this hotel I will come back at end of this post as worth knowing if you are considering this when staying in Barcelona.

Link for this tour below if you are interested - No 3 in Trip Advisor at moment

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187497-d1603406-Reviews-Barcelona_Day_Tours-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

Got picked up on time and taken into Barcelona centre. Met up with other tour guests - about 16 who were all American. Our guide was Marta who I think was originally from UK as her English was perfect and she was very clear and very informative.

I'm afraid I have no pictures for this tour as about 20mins after leaving hotel I discovered I left my phone. So no pictures and no emails - one of the best days I have had in a while. Wonder why?

We were in a mini van that took us first up to Montserrat. This is about 50mins away from centre Barcelona. It is a Monastery and school still in use today. We were told the school was in summer recess so the choir that normally performs wouldn't be during our visit. We were dropped of and Marta took us on to very informative tour and pointed out things to look at when we broke up so we could visit areas on our own. There was a mass being performed which was the first I have actually seen in real life surprisingly. There was a museum you could visit (charge to enter) which I did but to be honest I didn't really think of it much but I'm not one for paintings and there were a lot so if you do you might find it a better experience.

The views from Montserrat were amazing and you could got on cable cards further up but Marta said the time they took and time you had to spend they weren't really worth the time and effort.

We got some sandwiches and then headed back into Barcelona. Our first stop was Park Guell which was a very interesting place. Marta warned us about the Refugee sellers. They would offer water at 1euro but she said you don't know where the water comes from as often the tops are not sealed. There were a lot but seemed to sell all the same things throughout the tourist locations not just in Spain but in France and Italy I found later. There was always one that sells selfie sticks, then one that sells hats another jewellery, another umbrellas and a few with water.

The tour itself includes entry into the open area theatre. The weather was fantastic and walking through this park was very enjoyable and seeing the "strange" architecture was very interesting.

We then went to see various buildings and the church that never seems to be finished, Sagrada Familia Basilica. Marta explained why every time you come to Barcelona this church is still being built. Showed us differences on each side of the church we never actually went in. The church is promised to be finished in 2026.

We visited a few locations that Gaudí had designed within Barcelona and on our way back to hotel we went past the Olympics stadium which she asked if we wanted to shop and have a look and we did and it was interesting how Spain just used it's original stadium in 1992 (built in 1927 which they just modernised rather than spend £millions on a new one).

I was dropped off about 5pm at hotel. This trip is well worth taking and I highly recommend it.

Got into hotel and checked phone and had 2 emails so no disaster.

Now location of this hotel. When I booked it I didn't really pay attention of where it was located I just looked at price and reviews. Well to be honest it's in the middle of know where. My original plan for Barcelona was to just jump on one of those tour buses but if I had done that I would have to walk miles to find one! I think this hotel is located for cruise ships but anybody that has any more info please jump in as I will explain why I have come to conclusion hotel is great except for location.

I was hungry so I went to have a look at the hotels own restaurant and it had a "taster" menu on this night which was 42euros minimum of 2. I could of asked if they would do cheaper for a single but thought I would just dine out. So I headed out of the hotel. Now I couldn't see anything nearby so I just picked a direction and started walking, and walking and walking. After a little while I hadn't found anything and I mean anything, shops, or food outlets. Just flats and houses. I determined this was a resident area of Barcelona. But there should be something?

Now normally my next statement I would of thought I would never say but desperate things need desperate solutions. I was hungry and I did find somewhere to eat and it was ......

McDonalds!!!!

Whenever my friends go on holiday and they just eat English food and dine in McDonalds I always get at them and here I was in Spain going to each in a McDonalds! So please it was all I could find - anybody know a different direction I could of went to find something let me know as I would like to stay at this hotel again.

Next problem what is Spanish for a McChicken Sandwich - luckily for me to the left of the counter was one of these new order machines that have been starting to appear in outlets. First screen it shows it LANGUAGE!!! Picked English and I could order and not starve - sorry being a bit dramatic but got no pictures for this post so trying to make it more interesting. Now if you know me the one thing I go on about about McDonalds is the MCFLURRY - when they launch a new one it's one of the highlights of my week - sorry don't have much of a social life and don't get out much. This McDonalds had a PARTY MCFLURRY and the order machine allowed you to mix up how your Mcflurry is made - amazing technology is!

After McDonalds walked back to hotel saw some kids break dancing well think it was that - was that not a 80s thing? Watch TV for a bit then went to bed ready for EMBARKATION DAY.

Paul

Pictures size looks good.

Thanks looking at them on my screen I wasn't sure

DEPARTURE DAY

Thanks for all who have commented and following.

Before I got on I best come clean and tell you about a problem I have and I have tried to get help for it this is "email addiction!" I cannot switch off on holiday I always need to check my email. I have seen myself sitting in Mcdonalds in Orlando answering emails and Remote Accessing work. I know when on holiday I shouldn't but it's difficult but I am trying :) Reason I have said this at this point as you will see on next few posts about Wifi, Internet and Emails and wanted to explain why. I am determined by December my next holiday I will be cured :)

Anyone back to Departure Day. I was flying from 1.50pm and arriving in Barcelona 5.20pm (+1 hour) so I decided to get to airport before 9am so I could check and answer emails as it was a Friday - see already it's started! Arrived at Newcastle got the bus from the long stay car park to the terminal without any problems. Next find Checkin desk. I went up and down the different desks and there wasn't one for Vueling. So I looked for the information desk which I determined was the "oversized luggage" desk - not well signed. I found they share with Ryan Air and around 11.30am they should be active. So I found a seat in the coffee shop and waiting and started answering emails. Vueling appeared, checked in without issue.

Went through Security with no problems. I am never sure these days are you meant to take off your shoes or not seems varies between airports rather than a rule but shoes stayed on. I would guess 15mins only to get through but I was early.

This was first time since I was I think 10 years old I had been to Newcastle Airport and I cannot remember what it looked like then but today it is layed out like a lot in UK. You walk about a mile through duty free (will it felt that long) with sales assistants forcing you to smell stuff then you escape into the terminal that usually looks like a shopping centre and so did Newcastle but a quite nice shopping centre. I checked the screen and flight was on schedule and gate would be announced at 12.30pm I found a seat and you guessed started to check emails.

Airport started to get busy with all seats I could see filling up with families jetting off to the sun. At 12.30pm I got up went to screen and it displayed DELAYED - new announcement 2.00pm. Ok I am not in a rush but no seats now. I went up and down and eventually found a chair but this time facing a screen. Well to shorten this part the planes gates were announced at 6pm! Yes 9 hours I was waiting but I got all my emails answered!

I emailed the company that was collecting me from Barcelona airport a few times to let them know but they said they monitored the airlines and there wouldn't be an issue.

Plane left about 6.50pm if I remember. I was sitting next two a couple ladies from Australia (one from Newcastle that had come back to visit friends) so journey out was very nice. The plane itself was nothing special but for price I paid I can't complain. Listened to the safety instructions twice (English and Spannish) - well we all do don't we.

Main talking point on board was could we claim for lateness and I had done my research during the wait in the Airport. Martin Lewis's website moneysavingexpert.com has a section that you can fill in and it doesn't cost you anything and the company that runs that bit doesn't charge any commission but you just fill in the details and they email the airline and monitor response. For Europe as long as we ARRIVE 4 hours after we are meant to you can claim 400 euros!!!! So everyone on board were now hoping we were even later! 9.50pm was the target. We had a good journey across and arrived in Barcelona at 10.50pm!!!! I think there were cheers from a few for not that we arrived but time. I filled in this website when I got back and had a response fro Vueling within 2 weeks and said they were at fault and asked for bank details (Martins' website says you might be offered vouchers but you are entitled to money) but as off this moment no 400euros but website says give them time. SO hopefully by they time I have posted the last post of this I might have some spending money for next trip.

Arriving in Barcelona this flight parks away from airport so you need to get a bus to the terminal but this wasn't a great problem. I was surprised how big Barcelona airport is and how many airplanes Vueling has they were 100s. Also say a A380 - determined one day to go on one of these planes.

Once got to terminal about 15mins went through security without any problems. Found carousel for our flight and my bag appeared about 30mins later. I have a strap around it with my name on which a friend got me for Xmas a few years ago and never had a problem with luggage not appearing or being lost )

Went through the sliding doors to see all the drivers with names of people they were collecting all I needed was to find mine ..... after about 30mins going up and down the lines I came to conclusion my driver isn't here!!

I waited a bit as flight was late. After about another 30mins I looked out the local number and dialed it and waited, and waited and waited but no answer - Ok don't panic yet. I phoned the UK number (side note I am with O2 and I got switched on a European option which is £1.99 per day and you get your normal allowance on calls and data so worth doing- it comes on automatically and switches off when not used - it does work!) anyone a Spanish lady answered the UK number. I gave her my reference and she said driver should be there she would find out and ring me back. She did he was on the way she asked me to stand in front of Barcelona shop and he would meet me there. After about an hour an several calls from her to reassure he was coming he arrived.

Now not sure if I have said before but I normally go to countries that speak English as I don't speak any other language unless you count Scottish. I did try at school French but it was just noise and I wasn't very good so I dropped out and took Technical Drawing instead. Anyway the driver that arrived didn't speak any English and my SLOW ENGLISH which always works in foreign countries wasn't that helpful but with gestures and paperwork he knew where I was going - well I think he did. To be sure I put hotel in my phones map and watched as we left the airport if we were going in right direction - and we were :)

After about 40mins arrived at the hotel. I tipped the driver as he did try to hold a conversation during our journey. It was now I think about midnight. Went to hotels desk and they found me on system. They asked if I wanted breakfast which as 13euros per day - which I discovered was very well worth it. I got my room key - floor 15 and headed up in lift.

The room was very modern and has a great view. Had a walk in shower and many USB ports in the room for charging devices. I checked the TV - in a previous life I used to repair TVs (when they were made to be fixed) and like my dad I check tv reception, type of TV and what channels you get whenever I go to somewhere new - nearly as bad as email addiction! Found we had BBC World Services for English speaking, but it's not that great to be honest it just shows documentaries rather than rolling news but I am on holiday!

Time for bed!

By the way let me know how these pictures work for everyone first time I posted pictures.

PLANNING BY FIRST CRUISE ON NCL EPIC

I booked my First Cruise on NCL EPIC directly through NCL. I checked price through other online companies but I couldn't see any cheaper. When I first came across NCL Website the first thing I did was order Brochures online. The Following day a nice lady from NCL called Deborah called me to thank me for ordering the brochures and they would be despatched next few days she gave me her phone number and sent me an email and said if I had any questions just to email her. Over next few weeks when I was looking at ESCAPE she was very helpful and I booked THEN my first cruise for December. I will go into this cruise after I have been on it hopefully in December/January.

Well back to EPIC I booked through NCL within 30mins it appeared on my NCL bookings page and I could book excursions, dinning, etc (I will do post on NCL website and apps on separate post). Now I had to book flights. NCL offered them but Deborah said I might find them cheaper myself. Normally I fly from Edinburgh but Newcastle is close to me as well. So I used SKYSCANNER to see what companies did flights from those two airports. I thought it would be safer to go day before rather than fly on same day as cruise starts. I found flights were cheaper on Friday than Saturday so I decided I would book a hotel in Barcelona for Friday and Saturday night as well.

If found a company called VUELING fly from Newcastle to Barcelona and were very cheap - flight there was £69 and return on the 10th was £149 which as half price of NCL. I had never heard of VUELING but later found was part of BA. I booked car park at the air port as well.

For hotel I used hotels.com to find hotels in Barcelona and found Hotel Porta Fira stood out which looked very modern, got good reviews and for two nights it was only £124.

I read than transfers from Airport are best to book in advance so I booked through suntransfers.com collection from Airport on Friday and collection from Port on the following Sunday to take me back to Airport and this only cost 78euros.

With being in Barcelona for a day I thought I would book a tour and searched and found BarcelonaDayTours.com which had tour of BARCELONA AND MONTSERRAT and would collect me from my hotel and drop me back. Tour would last about 8 hours and was 99euros.

For excursions for the places the ship visits I will do separate post on that.

Finally money. Usually I pay for everything on my credit card so I phoned the credit card company to say I would be in Europe so could they "switch it on" for those countries. They said I didn't need to as Britain was part of EEC (well it was then :) ) Then thought best take some EUROS so I bought some but thought get some more sadly I waited to after the UK decided to BREXIT and the price went through the floor!!!

So everything booked - all ready to go - what could go wrong?

Next post DEPARTURE DAY

Paul

Hi All

This is the first time I have posted a review so please excuse if I ramble on or repeat myself. I planned to so this in July then August and with September only a few days away I thought I would at least start it.

I will be honest Cruise Holidays wasn't something I thought I would ever go on as thought it was for older people and dressing up at night and going to a formal dinner didn't interest me - well thats what I thought all cruisers were like. Normally I go on holiday in December and last few years it has been to Orlando. I am single so normally when I go I don't normally really meet anybody unless standing in a queue. I went to Barbados two years ago and stayed in an all inclusive resort and I liked that as met people at night. Most were ex cruise people who had decided to just go to Barbados over years of cruising. So even then didn't think it was for me.

Well I am not sure why I even looked at cruise holidays a few months ago but what caught my eye when I came across NCL website was SOLO TRAVELLER big and bold on the front page. Normally I am used to seeing prices of holidays and as soon as I change from 2 to 1 prices usually double but on this website under the SOLO section it didn't. I was impressed they were catering for the Single Traveller with rooms and even a meeting place to hang out. With Freestyle Dining the formal nights I expected weren't present and I thought l will give it a shot so I booked Escape for December (review of that I will do hopefully not too far after the holiday). But back to Epic as I was browsing NCL website quite a lot now I spotted a week in July (3rd-10th) for a daft price for £499 including free drinks passage (excluding flights) - thought couldn't go wrong so I booked it!

Over last few months I have used this great website to find out information on Escape and now I started to find out about Epic. I found some great posts from fellow cruisers but some bits I couldn't find or missed so thought I would do my own review/thoughts and split up to different sections that might help future Solo Travellers to find information based on what I discovered so hopefully might be of interest but also doing this method I might go on a bit so apologies if you are after a short and sweet review - if you are it WAS GREAT!!!

So second installment will be PLANNING BY FIRST CRUISE ON NCL EPIC

Paul

Love to see them if possible paul@fantasyprints.co.uk

Found doesn't work on my iPad but ok on desktop seems not unusual for iPads to do this with YouTube videos

I am in uk it loads page with your Title but says video not available. Accessing via iPad I will try desktop

Seems not to be there at moment?