Wisconsin995

In theory no, but on the Epic last month no one said a word when babies went in the pools-several times!

Why is that difficult to believe? We don't care to do specialty dining and I specifically want to unplug from the internet so what is left...Excursion credit. $50 is $50 I didn't have before. Just my thoughts. :)

I completely agree...this was us a few weeks ago. In my opinion paying gratuity for a free drink package isn't really free! The excursion promo is actually free money we would have spent. ;)

The credit shows up after the excursion is done. You are also not charged until on the boat. We booked before we got on so I cannot answer regarding excursions bought on board.

As a side note, we were pleasantly surprised that our float and snorkel rental on GSC were counted as shore excursions! Didn't expect that so it was a nice surprise!

They do have two options of tickets. I believe the one only covers the zoo type part-not the snorkeling or wateslide. We paid for an ncl excursion so it wasn't an option to only do the cheaper one. However, several people there had different colored bands and could not access those areas and there was signage saying as much as well. They do have snorkel gear for you in the little hut by the lagoon.

What time was the first tender?

It was supposed to be 8 but it was actually around 7:45.

Any excursion, even just a $30 clam shell, gets you priority tender tickets.

Was on the Epic a few weeks ago on the first tender without any excursions or clamshell reservations. We got our tender tickets on embarkation day for the first group. The tender wasn't even full at that time.

I also don't know about in and out privileges but the snorkelling was barely okay. It was our kids first time, and for that it was great as we were going snorkelling in the ocean the next day on a different excursion so it was good to see how it went. It was smooth water with a zero entry beach but there were only a couple fish and only one turtle when we were there. The rest of the farm is great, as is the water slide and pool, but the snorkelling is not a highlight.

Just want to point out that we were there two weeks ago and there were turtles everywhere in the snorkel! Like, everywhere! It was the best experience for my kids all trip. I thought it was awesome too. :)

Thanks for the update. It would be interesting to know if there is any evidence of the partying of the previous week. Did they leave the ship in one piece?

 

Enjoy your cruise. :cool:

They looked pretty rough:rolleyes: only saw one puking in the lot!

Anyone know what's going on with the epic? Supposed to board tomorrow. Got a call yesterday saying boarding delayed until noon. Just got another call saying boarding delayed until 4!!!!???

 

They better be bringing a portable bar off the ship my beverage package was supposed to start at 12 [emoji33]

 

 

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Update. ..I'm here waiting in the terminal. Pulled up around 10:30 and walked right through security and check in...just waiting to atart embarkation.

These cruises are notorious for late embarking on the following cruise. Lots of cruisers party all night and have a hard time waking up and getting off the ship by the deadline.

Interesting. They must make a lot off money from that charter to make it worth frustrating the 4, 000 late getting on. Seems a bit unfair that they can't enforce debarkation but ruin my embarkation.

They might have had the noro virus on board and they need to do a complete cleaning upon debarkation. We were on the Escape in October and we were notified that embarkation wouldn't start until 1:00 instead of 11:00 because of that.

 

 

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I understand these things can happen but I wonder how it is dealt with...I have had my private transfers set up and they cannot be altered. I'll be standing outside for six hours I guess. Previous cruisers who have had this happen...did you stand outside?!

We are on the Epic this Saturday and my husband got the same call! I was wondering the same thing...previous cruisers have you gotten this call before?

 

In our DCL sailings we were told the same thing in writing but also had port arrival times in the morning. Curious:confused:

Just got another call from NCL that embarkation tomorrow begins at 12:30?!

Anyone else get two calls?! My port arrival time was 10:30...that's when our private transfer from MCO is getting us there.

So sorry to hear about the troubles you had when boarding. I board the Epic tomorrow and NCL was sending out automated calls yesterday telling people not to show up until noon. We're still planning on showing up early, just not as early to try and avoid a nightmare like you described.

 

 

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This is me exactly! Thinking like 10:30, you?!

Also, to the original poster...do you mind sharing which sections of the Epic tender are off first? Or was it random each time?

We are going on the Epic Saturday and chose our check in time. Today my husband got a robo call saying not to come to the pier until noon. Is this normal for NCL? We've received emails from other cruise lines to that effect but we've just gone when we were supposed to ..and there wasn't a problem. I am assuming that it's an additional way of staggering check in. TIA

We are on the Epic this Saturday and my husband got the same call! I was wondering the same thing...previous cruisers have you gotten this call before?

In our DCL sailings we were told the same thing in writing but also had port arrival times in the morning. Curious:confused:

http://imgurcom/a/zKnDV Please click the link, then add the "." back in before "com"

 

I'm sorry, I don't understand how to work around the ridiculous image posting rules.

 

 

 

The image above is old (and also not mine), but I have added some things to it in the hopes of giving people a slightly better idea of the current state of GSC.

 

We were there on December 24th, 2016 with the Epic.

 

The main beach area near the Bacardi bar was loud and very crowded all day.

 

For a quiet spot - The area I shaded in green is where we settled for the day. We got there around 9:30am and there were only about 15 people there (plus the people in high numbered Cabanas up behind us). It stayed very quiet until around 11am when people started noticing the area existed. When we left around 1pm, the loungers and clamshells in this area were not quite half full. We did not encounter a line at the bar there. There are restrooms up behind the cabanas roughly were the map says "T3."

 

The area shaded in red is closed by a construction fence. Probably everything behind and past the small cabanas is closed off, but I didn't try to go back there.

 

The new taco bar, Abaco Taco was open. It is complimentary and open the same hours as the buffet. It is in the area next to the Patron Bar and straw market - just to your right once you tender onto the island. They had 3 types of premade taco: softshell with ground beef, softshell with shredded chicken, and softshell with fish. They are all seasoned, so no plain options - and I found the chicken way over-sauced and spicy. It is buffet style: You grab your tacos then dish your own toppings.

 

The Hippo Slide and the Snorkel Trail are gone.

I appreciate the feedback! I can't get the link to work as I'm new here and technologically behind.:o.

Well that stinks. I don't need the lagoon, but I'd like to have a quieter spot away from crowds...guess that won't happen. I've never been but from what I understand there are two eating spots, correct? Were both open? And the line was still that long? :confused:

It was closed for renovations when i was there for Thanksgiving.

Do you remember if the beach was open the whole way? Or was part of that closed as well?

We leave in a couple of weeks to sail on the Epic. We are used to Disney cruises so forgive me for sounding ridiculous :o.

I'm wondering if the lagoon area is now only for the Haven guests. Or if anyone can go? We have smaller children and I'd prefer to be away from crowds and crazy party people. I can't even find a recent map of the island. I know they are refurbishing, but the cruises the last few weeks have gone...what have you seen?

Tram still an option to the other end? Or only for the Haven?

Many thanks!