Ohio boomer Posted December 31, 2022 #1 Share Posted December 31, 2022 Decided to post as this forum has always been informative for us. Us- couple late 50’s, have cruised with NCL 5 times before, first trip out of San Juan. Boarding, as been told, is not good. If you are expecting a Miami or Fort Lauderdale type boarding experience, this is not it. Took 2 1/2 hours to board and we had one of the first boarding times. Either get there at 10:00am….and wait … Or 3-4:00pm after most have boarded. It didn’t help that some streets were closed off the New Years Eve. Balcony room is typical but a little tighter than other NCL ships…. No problem as we are rarely in the room. Bathroom as reported is odd but hey… part of the experience. 🙂. Wi-Fi is just ok (as always). Saw the “Epic Beatles” the first night and was good. Shanghai Noodles for dinner was also decent. No trouble getting drinks or chairs by the pool. Excellent service as well. The Day 2 daily is attached. AMA!…. And I will try to answer…. My responses may start to get slower as drink service is quick…..;) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare laudergayle Posted December 31, 2022 #2 Share Posted December 31, 2022 What’s the occupancy on your sailing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio boomer Posted December 31, 2022 Author #3 Share Posted December 31, 2022 While I am not exactly sure, it doesn’t appear totally full. I noticed prices dropped some before we left, and a few of the breakfast stations in the Garden Cafe were empty. It’s a cruise ship with a lot of people, but it doesn’t seem “full”. My totally unofficial estimate is 85-90% full. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare laudergayle Posted December 31, 2022 #4 Share Posted December 31, 2022 2 minutes ago, Ohio boomer said: While I am not exactly sure, it doesn’t appear totally full. I noticed prices dropped some before we left, and a few of the breakfast stations in the Garden Cafe were empty. It’s a cruise ship with a lot of people, but it doesn’t seem “full”. My totally unofficial estimate is 85-90% full. Thanks we’re on Feb 5 sailing and really want to enjoy the pool area. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio boomer Posted December 31, 2022 Author #5 Share Posted December 31, 2022 The “main” pool area is surprisingly empty of kids… which is OK. Bands playing all day… along with the typical “contests” (Mr Sexy legs is going on now)… pools / hot tubs not crowded. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare spenecer Posted December 31, 2022 #6 Share Posted December 31, 2022 Can you post the other pages of your daily? Epic dailies for the San Juan itinerary are 'rare' since the route just started. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertDuff Posted December 31, 2022 #7 Share Posted December 31, 2022 How is the dope smoke? We were on Dec 16-23 and the stench was awful. Openly smoking on the pool deck daily and on their balconies. H2O open? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacation44 Posted December 31, 2022 #8 Share Posted December 31, 2022 1 hour ago, Ohio boomer said: Decided to post as this forum has always been informative for us. Us- couple late 50’s, have cruised with NCL 5 times before, first trip out of San Juan. Boarding, as been told, is not good. If you are expecting a Miami or Fort Lauderdale type boarding experience, this is not it. Took 2 1/2 hours to board and we had one of the first boarding times. Either get there at 10:00am….and wait … Or 3-4:00pm after most have boarded. It didn’t help that some streets were closed off the New Years Eve. Balcony room is typical but a little tighter than other NCL ships…. No problem as we are rarely in the room. Bathroom as reported is odd but hey… part of the experience. 🙂. Wi-Fi is just ok (as always). Saw the “Epic Beatles” the first night and was good. Shanghai Noodles for dinner was also decent. No trouble getting drinks or chairs by the pool. Excellent service as well. The Day 2 daily is attached. AMA!…. And I will try to answer…. My responses may start to get slower as drink service is quick…..;) Thank you for posting and enjoy your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio boomer Posted December 31, 2022 Author #9 Share Posted December 31, 2022 No dope smoke…. Or any other smoking of any type…. At least not in the pool area. I have seen 1 person vaping and that’s it. Spice H2O is open…. And fun…. Nice vibe. I will post the other pages of today’s dailies later today. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare www3traveler Posted December 31, 2022 #10 Share Posted December 31, 2022 When you can could you please both a list of the current Officers both the Hotel staff and the Bridge staff. Enjoy your cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacation44 Posted December 31, 2022 #11 Share Posted December 31, 2022 2 hours ago, Ohio boomer said: I will post the other pages of today’s dailies later today. Do you have the day one daily? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitkat343 Posted December 31, 2022 #12 Share Posted December 31, 2022 (edited) thanks so much for posting the dailies. I'm trying to figure out if the kids clubs are running (someone online said they aren't on sea days, and NCL can only tell me each ship is setting its own hours so I'm hoping to get a sense of what to warn my kids about). Edited December 31, 2022 by kitkat343 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio boomer Posted December 31, 2022 Author #13 Share Posted December 31, 2022 The “main” pool area is surprisingly empty of kids… which is OK. Bands playing all day… along with the typical “contests” (Mr Sexy legs is going on now)… pools / hot tubs not crowded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio boomer Posted December 31, 2022 Author #14 Share Posted December 31, 2022 KitKat….. sorry…. No idea on the Kids clubs. If you see anything mentioned in the dailies I’m posting, it may be in there. Attempting to post dailies on the ships internet is like pouring molasses in January….. I had dial up modems in the 80’s that were faster. Will more than likely post them once we hit shore…. Right now…. We are in the middle of the ocean and I swear , hamsters are running on a wheel someplace to power this internet. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare spenecer Posted December 31, 2022 #15 Share Posted December 31, 2022 26 minutes ago, Ohio boomer said: Is Yury and Nato - Acrobatic Duo an extra cost show or is it complimentary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio boomer Posted December 31, 2022 Author #16 Share Posted December 31, 2022 No extra cost…. Just need to show up early to get in line as we hustled over 15 minutes before the show and we did not make it in…. Think 30 minutes before in line to make sure you get a seat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonchalant_muse Posted December 31, 2022 #17 Share Posted December 31, 2022 55 minutes ago, Ohio boomer said: No extra cost…. Just need to show up early to get in line as we hustled over 15 minutes before the show and we did not make it in…. Think 30 minutes before in line to make sure you get a seat. Thanks so much for posting! I'll be aboard the Epic in April, also embarking in San Juan. I hope by then the disembarking/embarking process has been smoothed out, sounds as though there are definitely some major kinks to be worked out. A couple questions: 1. Is the complimentary continental bfast room service officially gone? I've heard it's starting to phase out and is being replaced with an automatic room service fee (I think only Haven-level guests are exempted). 2. Whilst leaving the San Juan port, how soon before taxes on beverages no longer applied? Is it as soon as the ship departs, or did it take some time after? That's all I've got for now, thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J0Y0US Posted December 31, 2022 #18 Share Posted December 31, 2022 1 hour ago, Ohio boomer said: No extra cost…. Just need to show up early to get in line as we hustled over 15 minutes before the show and we did not make it in…. Think 30 minutes before in line to make sure you get a seat. No worries if you can send them once back in the states it would be amazing as we travel on the 15th and will be good to get a lay of the land. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J0Y0US Posted December 31, 2022 #19 Share Posted December 31, 2022 2 hours ago, kitkat343 said: thanks so much for posting the dailies. I'm trying to figure out if the kids clubs are running (someone online said they aren't on sea days, and NCL can only tell me each ship is setting its own hours so I'm hoping to get a sense of what to warn my kids about). I had did another post regarding them not being on port days and you needed to be in with the kids except for the late hours. Its on the additional post though that it would be running on sea days it shows in his freestyle above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J0Y0US Posted December 31, 2022 #20 Share Posted December 31, 2022 Questions: Pizza - where is it and when and how is it? Ice Cream - is there a soft serve machine anywhere? You can see I am in to the important stuff lol. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhtravels Posted December 31, 2022 #21 Share Posted December 31, 2022 Thank you for sharing! We are on the 2/5 sailing (our first on the Epic) so I'll be following along! Happy New Years and enjoy your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio boomer Posted January 1, 2023 Author #22 Share Posted January 1, 2023 Nonchalant_muse - 1 - yes… there is a $4.95 service charge for your room service items…. Continental breakfast. 2 - while in the San Juan port. You are charged for taxes on the drinks you get. Now…. While I am not completely sure, . Once you hit that 12 - mile offshore area… is when that charge goes away, casinos open up, you are allowed to whistle in public… etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio boomer Posted January 1, 2023 Author #23 Share Posted January 1, 2023 Joyous - pizza can be found in the Garden Cafe and they have veggie, cheese, pepperoni, of which the wife said were good…. Now remember though…. This is cruise ship pizza…. ice cream (hard) dozen flavors, can be found in the Garden Cafe, while the soft is easier found on the pool deck right outside the Garden Cafe on both side of the deck, right near the small outdoor dining area. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastmango212 Posted January 1, 2023 #24 Share Posted January 1, 2023 Ohio-Thanks for spending part of your valuable cruise time answering our questions! We will be passing you in San Juan, as we sail 1/8. Any advice for figuring out embarkation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare spenecer Posted January 1, 2023 #25 Share Posted January 1, 2023 On the TA cruise for the Epic, posters were complaining that lots of spirits were not available due to 'supply chain issues'. How is the alcohol supply? Did you get the Unlimited Drink package with Free at Sea? And how are the internet hamsters in Aruba? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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