luv2gamble

Thanks all. I least I dont have to worry about hiding my cash while in water LOL! Thanks for the info

Thanks all!

Does anyone know if you use cash or your room key to purchase a cocktail. Also, I read on a thread that because of previous hurricane that the island might still be closed for renovations. Does anyone know?? thanks in advance

Hi All. On the Breakaway you had to use your room key to turn on your room lights. I never been on the Epic. Does anyone know if its like that also? On Breakaway I even put a decoy library card and left it in slot so I always had my lights on. they took it out and left a note saying trying to conserve electricity and not to leave a card in slot. Thanks

I have been to the private island which is the best part of the cruise for me. I just cannot remember if you use cash or your room key to purchase cocktails at the beach. Does anyone know?

Thanks all

Hi all, I am going on the Epic 12/10 which goes to Tortola British Virgin island, St. Thomas, and the private island in the Bahamas. I know you need to tender for the private island but does anyone know if you tender at the other ports? Also, does anyone know if I can get a wheel chair on the Epic. I don't know if you can and if its free or a cost. Thanks for all your help. :D

Thanks all for your help. Im on deck 13 so I thought it would take me to all decks (lol). Thanks again!

I see there is an escalator mid ship on the epic. does anyone know where this leads too? does not show it on the website. Does it go up and down all decks? The elevators are only aft and forward and its a long walk. I am disabled and was wondering if this would help me out. thanks

It was the 1st sailing of season so they were not prepared and all were complaining. Waited about 2hrs before the interviewed me and escorted me back to ship. The ship is not allowed to let passengers off until the group they selected were interviewed. BTW, no chairs and we all stood 2hrs. Good luck

I know this from experience. I went through this myself and that is exactly what happened to me. There was even someone there who was not allowed in Canada because they were behind on child support. A Canadian Border officer will escort you off the ship into somekind of a holding area which is located about 50 feet off the ship. They question you and you sign a paper and they escort you back on the ship. You swipe your room key to get back on ship and that is it. They even acknowledged to me that in USA it is a minor offence but in Canada it is a felony. My only last words to them was "I can't believe you wont let me off ship for even a cup of coffee but USA allows Just Beiber to live in USA". They just laughed and sd sorry and that was it. The night before you will get a sealed envelope at your door tucked in where your cabin number is. The letter just says that you have been randomly picked. USA shares all criminal records w Canada. It does not make a diff if you use a passport or drivers lic. They get a list of all passengers two weeks before cruise deports. Good luck and dont worry. Your not missing much at that port anyway. You will have the ship to yourself LOL. I even called the Canadian Border patrol for ships bringing cargo. I spent numerous hours and days investigating this. So, I did all the work for you. No need to check any further. I was paranoid until it was all over. Enjoy the cruise:)

You will have no problem getting on ship as long as you are boarding in Seattle. The day before arriving in Victoria you will get a written notice on your door requesting that you report to the front desk 1 hour before arrival time. At that time they will advise you that you cannot leave the ship in Canada. they will take you off the ship to meet with a Canadian Border official who will ask you about any criminal record you have. DO NOT DENY ANYTHING! They have your history right in front of them. They will then make you sign a paper saying you agree not to get off the ship and that you are denied visitation rights. They will not even let you off for a cup of coffee. Just sign the paper. They will then escort you back on the ship. All will be okay as long as you embark and disembark in Seattle. You cannot get on ship if it were leaving from Vancouver. But you will be okay. Safe travel and good luck:)

No, only in balcony cabins and up do you get a coffee maker in your cabin.

Thanks for the info, thats a shame. I used to get 2 pots of coffee via room service everyday. I refused to pay $8 just for coffee, its the principle. A coffee maker would have made up for it. Oh well, Thanks again.

Hi all. I'm booked on the Gem with Oceanview. Does anyone know if the rooms have a coffee maker in them? Thanks

On another cruise line, my friend went in pool just before it was closing up. He was by himself. The crew thought no one was in the pool but he was. They threw a net over pool and started to drain the pool. My friend started screaming as he felt the suction of the water draining and pulling him down. He grabbed the ladder screaming for help. A crew member heard him and stopped the draining. He was scared to death and hes 50 years old and strong.

Thanks all. Going to use a casino card if needed :)

Thanks all, looking forward to my cruise :)

Thanks for the info..Looking forward to the Gem ;)

Thanks all :)

On the Breakaway we had to use our room key to turn on lights. Does anyone know if it is the same on the Gem? I hate leaving something charging and come back to room and its dead because electric was off. thanks

They played every night starting around 9. During the day there were tournaments. After the tournament a cash game never got off until the evening.

Thanks for the info. Just booked 10 day Caribbean out of Ny for Oct 10th :)

Hi all ! I have been on the Breakaway twice and loved it. Booking again but thinking about the gem. Does anyone know if the Gem has Texas Holdem in the casino? Any suggestions? Breakaway again or try to Gem? Thanks all!

deciding to go on gem or not. does anyone know if and how many texas holdem tables the Gem has? thanks

So, I have the same issue and want to make sure nothing has changed for 2015. Luv2Gamble, can you please provide the numbers you called. I just get the runaround everytime I try to call any service...its so frustrating.

Hi tech..I cannot remember the number but it was canadian immigration. Hard to get someone on the line but I remember I pressed the option for people who were trying to get clearance to enter country via boat as if they were already in transit like a delivery and were waiting to enter. As long as you have a loop cruise entering cruise within USA and disembark USA you do not have a problem. You just simply cannot get off at any Canada stop or start cruise from Canada. There was a room full of people that were called down b4 docking in Canada and almost all were told they cannot enter country. We just all went back on ship and used the amenities. Good luck!

Luv2gamble -- just curious how your trip turned out. Any issues boarding in Seattle? We have similiar situation in our family and are cruising from Seattle in July. Thanks!

Hi, I am back and all went well. NO PROBLEM getting on in Seattle at all. The day before we were scheduled to arrive in Victoria BC I got a letter delivered to my cabin. The letter stated that a hand selected people were selected by the Canada Border patrol for a second interview before entering the country. The letter stated that a list was emailed to the ship of selected people and I was to report to the front desk 2pm sharp just prior to getting off ship. I called the front desk, they said even if i planned on staying on the ship, it was mandatory I show up. Well, I did, along with about 30 people including some crew members. We waited for border patrol over an hour. they took us ashore before everyone else and took us to a holding area and one by one they took us to the side. They out in out just asked me if I was ever in trouble with the law. I told them my dui story. He had it all in front of him, exactly what I was saying. SO DONT LIE! He said to me, Im sorry but even though I had a minor case, I was not permitted to enter the country. Made me sign a form and I was escorted back on ship. Just cannot go into Victoria. I did ask him, what if I was entering via Vancouver? The officer said, I would not have been able to board the ship. Hope this is helpful.