sdmike

Normally once you get the GTY they don't change it, so it's interesting that they're moving you around. I think the first few minis on each side have partially enclosed balconies (hull balconies). They're that way up front to help block the wind. You can see in this picture

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T8rYiDUA4Ec/S9nUR_K8ryI/AAAAAAAACdk/J8iV_paGhW8/s1600/GEM0508+221.jpg

You're the first passenger cabin by the bridge. I'm sure you'll be fine. At least you're not under the gym :eek:

lol. thanks Deb :)

I just got off my 2nd NCL cruise last month (which, btw, was great!). DH and I are in the planning stages of a cruise with his parents for this fall. None of us smoke, and we will book balcony rooms for this cruise. We were strongly considering Norwegian, but with CCL changing their smoking policies and all of the smokers jumping ship to Norwegian, we are reconsidering that possibility.

 

NCL may get all of the smokers from the other cruise lines, but may not get new business from non-smokers (if the traveler is educated on the policies). I've been on 19 cruises on 3 different lines, and had just decided to start exploring some different Norwegian ships and itineraries, but that may not happen now.

 

I do believe that NCL will eventually move to more non-smoking areas - my explorations may have to wait until then. I wouldn't rule out NCL completely at this time, but this does become one of several factors in my planning process.

This is how I feel. NCL is my line of choice and I've not had any issues with smoking/smokers in the past. However, I fear that I'm on borrowed time if the percentages of smokers to non-smokers shifts substantially due to the new policy. Thankfully I"m not planning a trip right now and I can see how this plays out a bit.

There's lots of information on the Epic in my signature area. Make sure click on "helpful NCL documents" where you will find things like a dining guide (showing free and pay venues) and an overview of what freestyle cruising is.

What drives me crazy are the people saying that they couldn't enjoy their balconies the entire cruise because of the smoke. They say things like the smokers next to them were on the balcony 24/7. Well in order for them to know that they too would need to be on their balcony 24/7.

It has nothing to do with 24/7. I doubt anyone wants to "enjoy" their balcony at 3am. There are prime times for using the balcony. I liked to use mine in the morning while drinking coffee, or in the evenings after dinner watching the sun set. It's quite possible that every time during the cruise they wanted to use their balcony they found that the people next door had a similar schedule.

We used the BAGS program in Seattle for our United flights and loved it. It is $20 per person, and each person is allowed 2 bags. So if you have two suitcases, only one of you needs to sign up for the program. You will also need to pay any airline baggage fees that might apply.

We had 6 of us with 4 suitcases, and just my wife and I signed up since we were allowed 2 bags each. My frequent flier status also got me free bags through the airline, so that $40 to have our suitcases dealt with was money well spent.

Here is info on which airlines are included:

http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/bags

If your cruise/port is eligible you will receive information in your stateroom mid-week.

no funny naming discussion yet? I'm disappointed. :)

Not bashing you (in fact I agree that they do contain nicotine) but we all know that just because something is on the interwebs, especially wiki, it means it HAS TO be true, right? ;)

Wikipedia is one of the most accurate and trustworthy sources of information on the web. It's self policing and requires citations and references. You can read more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Quality_control

That is like saying throwing a lit match into kerosene in safe than throwing one int gasoline. Neither is safe. The ecigs may be less dangerous but I would not exactly say safer.

semantics. Less dangerous, less harmful...whatever. For those that are addicted to nicotine it's a better alternative, but I hate both

I didn't know that. I thought there was not any nicotine in them? If they do, they I absolutely agree that they should not be allowed!

Yep, they do. Nicotine liquid is poisonous, and there are reports of kids drinking it by accident and getting very sick. There is also nicotine present in the vapor. The e-sigs are still a safer alternative to cigarettes because it doesn't have hundreds of carcinogens that come from burning tobacco.

So, probably not safe, but safter

my favorite spot was my balcony, followed by the Great Outdoors at the rear of the ship

What kind of food do you like?

The top restaurants tend to be:

Le Bistro

Cagneys

Moderno (if you love meat)

Teppanyaki (limited seating makes it the one sold out the most)

The chinese and italian offerings are pretty mainstream. Good, but the others are more unique and popular.

You're welcome. Another thing...

In the deck plans you will see some rooms with connecting doors on 13 and 14. These doors are right next to the balcony on the flat wall. If you do not NEED a connecting room, opt for a non-connecting one. The connecting door takes the place of a closet that you might fine more valuable.

Happy cruising

In a 3 person room, two sleep in a king bed (which can be split about 18 inches if needed), and one sleeps on the couch. In a 4 person room there is also a bunk that pulls down from the ceiling. All 4 person balcony rooms on the Epic have the bed closer to the entry door in order to facilitate the pull down.

You can see this on the deck plans as well. The large bed is in the widest part of the room where the curve goes "out".

We were up there, but I've never heard it referred to as a Quiet Zone.

Not called that on the deck plans either

There is no way in heck I'd book a 10:15 flight. Could you make it if you walk off the ship at 7am, move through customs & passport control without delay, find a cab immediately, find the road clear for the hour drive, and get quickly through airport security and be in the gate for boarding by 9:45? yeah, I guess so, but if there are any delays in that sequence you're going to be out of luck. I wouldn't even book a flight out of Miami that early because of the security delays...and there will be more hoops for you to jump through as a foreigner. The last thing I'd want to do is spend my vacation worrying about if/how I would make my flight. Book later and give yourself some wiggle room, and relax.

My two cents

never heard of it.

In my view that's more than enough if you're not asking for anything other than normal duties (afternoon snacks, service the coffee machine)

I did that same trip and have very similar AK pictures, but that GV...wow! :) Some day...some day...

Nope. There's about 8 inches between the railing and the support post of the balcony. No extension.

I usually book my cruises through a big warehouse, but you have to be a member. They are always cheaper than the cruise line because they give back part of their profit to the member.

 

There are other TA's out there that do similar that I have used but I have not found better yet.

 

We do the same, and have gotten significantly lower prices through this big membership warehouse

Mike - do you remember if it smelled heavily of chlorine in there?

Not that I noticed, or at least remember noticing.

it was worth it for us. We traveled with 3 teenagers, and it was nice for my wife and I to be able to get away for a bit.

Actually that picture was taken at Splash Academy. That child's parents had removed their DSC charges.

lol! nice

Can you purchase a Spa Day pass on the Epic rather than for a week for a Transatlantic cruise?

Day passes were not offered on my last two NCL cruises, but I'm not sure if that's normal.