Epic Disembarkation fail...

[undertone]

Hi - just got off the six day Barcelona - Southampton voyage and wants to make a quick post about the farce that disembarking the vessel this morning tuened out to be.

 

The ship as many know is about to go for a refurb which meant that most of the crew were getting off as well and the whole process was extremely poorly managed.

 

It took us two hours to get off the ship as most people had followed the suggestion to carry their own bags off only to find that they had only one disembarkation gangway and the queues were horrendous. Loads of folk missed flight and train connections and tempers were really getting frayed as people tried to queue jump in effort to get off in time.

 

No announcements pertaining to those getting off independently of the tag system were made and there were very few staff around to impose even a basic system of management.

 

Once off there were further hour long queues for taxis - just hopeless....

 

The trip itself went ok, weather was nice but the whole experience was soured by a few hours chaos at the end.

[ighten]

Hi - just got off the six day Barcelona - Southampton voyage and wants to make a quick post about the farce that disembarking the vessel this morning tuened out to be.

 

The ship as many know is about to go for a refurb which meant that most of the crew were getting off as well and the whole process was extremely poorly managed.

 

It took us two hours to get off the ship as most people had followed the suggestion to carry their own bags off only to find that they had only one disembarkation gangway and the queues were horrendous. Loads of folk missed flight and train connections and tempers were really getting frayed as people tried to queue jump in effort to get off in time.

 

No announcements pertaining to those getting off independently of the tag system were made and there were very few staff around to impose even a basic system of management.

 

Once off there were further hour long queues for taxis - just hopeless....

 

The trip itself went ok, weather was nice but the whole experience was soured by a few hours chaos at the end.

 

Apparently two things happened.. Southampton put it in a terminal that had nobody to manage the bridges, one of which was broken and according to another post(though it sounds unlikely - though then again anything is possible in the UK) they could have even been some confusion until the last day as to them even expecting the Epic to even have passengers on board.

 

Agree though it was a messy ending to a superb cruise.

Edited September 27, 2015 by ighten

[Single Cruiser]

It's the new Del Rio surcharge. The slide gangway wasn't fun with luggage.

 

Normally you exit through the passenger terminal at level (around deck 7) and then via immigration into the warehouse to collect luggage and customs etc..

 

As no passengers were joining they seem to have switched immigration to onboard the ship the day after we left Lisbon (never had that before returning to Southampton so guess that's because they knew the disembarkation wouldn't go via the terminal).

 

Whether it's because NCL didn't want to pay for a full staff/terminal opening or if Royal Caribbean (who spent millions on that terminal and are prime users) only allowed minimum service...

[The English Flannel]

I was on this cruise too. Thought the whole process yesterday morning of disembarkation was a total farce. Lines and lines of people snaking their way around the ship and they weren't moving! I was meant to be off at 9am to catch a train and only got off at 11am!

 

The gangway exiting the ship was at such an angle that it could have been a potentially dangerous method for some passengers with mobility difficulties. If someone had slipped over, they would have taken out everyone on the gangway and someone could have been injured. Hopefully no one fell over and hurt themselves but could this have been avoided?

 

The British immigration checks on the first day at sea was a mess too. Over an hour spent in a non moving line and then all we had to do was to flash the officer my passport! Let's just say some people weren't too happy about their afternoon being ruined...

 

Not a nice way to end what was a lovely cruise on the Epic before it headed to dry-dock.

 

Cartagena is a lovely port with lots to do, Malaga is a superb city and Lisbon I think I'm right in thinking was Epic's maiden call into the Portuguese capital?

Edited September 27, 2015 by The English Flannel

[Single Cruiser]

I was on this cruise too. Thought the whole process yesterday morning of disembarkation was a total farce. Lines and lines of people snaking their way around the ship and they weren't moving! I was meant to be off at 9am to catch a train and only got off at 11am!

 

The gangway exiting the ship was at such an angle that it could have been a potentially dangerous method for some passengers with mobility difficulties. If someone had slipped over, they would have taken out everyone on the gangway and someone could have been injured. Hopefully no one fell over and hurt themselves but could this have been avoided?

 

The British immigration checks on the first day at sea was a mess too. Over an hour spent in a non moving line and then all we had to do was to flash the officer my passport! Let's just say some people weren't too happy about their afternoon being ruined...

 

Not a nice way to end what was a lovely cruise on the Epic before it headed to dry-dock.

 

Cartagena is a lovely port with lots to do, Malaga is a superb city and Lisbon I think I'm right in thinking was Epic's maiden call into the Portuguese capital?

 

Those gangways are only normally used by crew. I nearly went full length.

 

Yep it was her maiden visit to Lisbon. I was shocked at lack of navigation facts / cpt announcement like how we enter under the bridge with just 8M clearance.

 

Ironically my passport flashing moment was at around 11 and it was empty on the EU side. Was in Manhattan and out in about 5 mins !! Apparently a lot of the lower deck passengers couldn't be bothered to go to their morning slots and went after lunch!

[ighten]

The British immigration checks on the first day at sea was a mess too. Over an hour spent in a non moving line and then all we had to do was to flash the officer my passport! Let's just say some people weren't too happy about their afternoon being ruined...

 

Not a nice way to end what was a lovely cruise on the Epic before it headed to dry-dock.

 

Cartagena is a lovely port with lots to do, Malaga is a superb city and Lisbon I think I'm right in thinking was Epic's maiden call into the Portuguese capital?

 

We spent 10 minutes in the smoky casino passport queue and left it went back up deck and came back in the evening no queue. Agree though the rest was wonderful and such happy staff.

 

Re Lisbon yes hence the doughnut spinning water spraying tug escort. The Mayor and his entourage came on for dinner and to present the plaque though they didn't put it up in the viewing room.. I did wonder though for a moment if we were going to fit under that bridge :rolleyes:

 

 

[The English Flannel]

Those gangways are only normally used by crew. I nearly went full length.

 

Yep it was her maiden visit to Lisbon. I was shocked at lack of navigation facts / cpt announcement like how we enter under the bridge with just 8M clearance.

 

Ironically my passport flashing moment was at around 11 and it was empty on the EU side. Was in Manhattan and out in about 5 mins !! Apparently a lot of the lower deck passengers couldn't be bothered to go to their morning slots and went after lunch!

 

Funny how you find these things out when you get home isn't it!

 

It might have been just me but I only heard the captain on the PA a couple of times including one of the sea days when he was describing the sea conditions. From previous NCL cruises I seem to recall a lot more communication from the bridge?

 

I presumed it was the Epic's first call in Lisbon as I couldn't find a plaque in the bridge viewing room the day before Lisbon!

Edited September 27, 2015 by The English Flannel

[Single Cruiser]

Pic coming in..

 

And going out

Edited September 27, 2015 by Single Cruiser

[The English Flannel]

Pic coming in..

 

And going out

 

Nice pictures! Where did you take the evening picture of the bridge from? Only asking as I must have taken an identical image!!

[Single Cruiser]

By the sports net above Spice

[The English Flannel]

I was at the top by the Sports deck too! For one minute it looked like there wouldn't be enough clearance to pass under the bridge!!

[BirdTravels]

Now that the dry dock is complete, and the Epic is ready to sail back to Barcelona, time to board all the passengers in Southampton.

 

Hmmm. Still only a single, narrow, steep gangway. After leaving the waiting area, we were led through the baggage hall dodging carts to the one and only gangway onto the ship.

[kirsty_r]

Now that the dry dock is complete, and the Epic is ready to sail back to Barcelona, time to board all the passengers in Southampton.

 

Hmmm. Still only a single, narrow, steep gangway. After leaving the waiting area, we were led through the baggage hall dodging carts to the one and only gangway onto the ship.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if it is to do with costs of staffing the terminal for NCL, as NCL don't usually embark at Southampton... and all the other ships manage just fine...