Bra_BE2014

Hello, currently onboard 10 day cruise that departed on 20/6 from Rome. When checking the app I saw Corfu became a second sea day. There were no announcements and most of the passengers seems unaware. Shore excursion desk claims not knowing what happened. Anybody knows by any chance? Was it the same in the previous cruises? Thanks!

Hoping something different will be announced for 2022!  I will be on my 5th Epic cruise on March 2022 :-)

Upgrade or downgrade is  not related to the deck number. It is related to the category type. 

3 hours ago, Stinger-pr said:

I am local to Puerto Rico so I don't have to worry about flights post cruise. But I can relate to disembarkation from a NCL ship (Dawn) at the terminal the Epic will be using for its inaugural winter season homestead from San Juan. While the ship will be dockside at 5:30am, the process to get passengers off will not start until about 7:30am. Hopefully the disembarkation process on the Epic will be less of a mess than the one I experienced on the Dawn last year (2018). They asked that everyone be out if the staterooms by 8am but the process to get everyone off was painfully slow and this caused major bottlenecks at the gangway. We had a high group number (NCL calls out guests by groups to head for the gangway to exit on debarkation) and it was obvious that the person calling out the groups had no idea what was going on below. We waited for almost one hour AFTER our group was called (about half of that time on the Promenade in the morning sun) to finally cross the gangway into the terminal. 

 

Traffic is also and issue: You will have the Epic and RC's Freedom of the Seas debarking at the same time in the terminal right next door. Pick-up areas are very small and the road is just one lane in, one lane out for both terminals and traffic jams last for hours. When we got off the Dawn, it took our relative who was picking us up over one hour to drive less than one mile. There will be taxis there at the start of debarkation but as they start to leave it might take a while for others to cycle back in to the terminal due to this.

 

The trip to the airport is about 15-20 minutes and once there you need to scan all your bags on the USDA scanners BEFORE checking in and/or checking bags. Then you go through TSA which will likely take a while as well.

 

This might be a (too?) long post but I just wanted to give you an idea of what you might face so you guys can make a more informed decision when booking flights out of PR. Having said that I never recommend anyone take a flight before 11am. You could make something before 11am work if you are one of the first passengers to leave but 9:30am would be overkill, IMHO.

This is really helpful, thank you! I will definitely book the 2 PM flight then!

Thank you all! I guess the trip summary saying the ship arrives back in San Juan at 5:30 AM is a bit misleading, as indeed that doesnt mean I will be able to walk off so early. I have a 2PM flight option, I'll go for that one.

Experience wise, I'm thinking to book a Spa pass and specialty dining to escape if things get too loud and crazy. The solo meetings were so much fun in the Med, hoping it will be as fun in the Caribben :-)

Hi Everyone!

I've done 4 cruises on the Epic from Barcelona in the past and am about to take my first Caribbean (Southern 11 day) cruise next Jan 26th.

I was wondering if anyone that has experienced both could give me some pointers on what to expect for the onboard experience, debarkation, etc compared to the Med. I'm debating if 9:30 AM is too early for an international flight back home.

Thanks in advance!!!

Priscila

Excellent review, thanks!

Pitty we don’t have more testimonials of people who were on board and saw it all!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Just read this entire thread in one go, so much fun! However, one mystery remains: Who won the Lion contest? Was there an award ceremony? Did the winner receive the prize? Are Rick and the lion still together?! So many questions.

Are you sure this is legit? I googled 'Msc Armonia' and nothing about this came up. Anybody seen it reported anywhere other then Facebook?

Really bad situation with Carnival looking pretty bad after.

 

 

 

However the most worrying part for me is the inability and general ineptitude of security to handle a bunch of drunk bogans.

 

 

 

Its just a matter of time until the terrorist types click and say hmmm, a 3000 person vessel with a dozen unarmed, untrained security guards in the middle of nowhere. Hazard waiting to happen, I just hope I'm not on that ship.

I love cruising but I indeed am also scared it is just a matter of time before ship’s poor security encourage terrorists attacks. God help us.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Im curious about this and I am in no way trying to be insulting or confrontational when I ask...Im just curious. Why would someone get an inside room with the Yacht club? Through my way of thinking, inside rooms were always cheapest, then oceanview, then balconies, then rooms that were bigger with bigger balconies. And that was the hierarchy. Being in the YC, but in an inside room seems counterintuitive. Im really curious because I have seen the similarity in pricing and wonder why someone might choose this option.

It’s a fair question!

I only considered it because I did a b2b on a ncl epic studio and loved it. I didn’t miss having a balcony or porthole for a second.

So when I saw the price of the YC inside I was more then willing to try, specially if you consider you have access to the one pool deck. For me it was way better then paying double or triple for another YC option, since I only use my cabin to sleep and get changed.

Happy cruising!

Priscila

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I much rather they charge it and keep their cruise fares on the lower end then charging very high prices like RCL and having the zip line 'free'....

I just finished your review, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I will be cruising this itinerary on the Seaview in July, and I could not be more excited.

 

You seem to be well versed on these Mediterranean ports. We are struggling with planning our days in Genoa and Naples. Like you did, we have a very late arrival in Naples, so we planned on just winging that day around the city, and seeing whatever we could around the cruise ship. We wanted to see a picturesque Italian fishing village when docked in Genoa, such as Nervi, Camogli, or Portofino. However, Portofino seems to be not worth it based on reviews, and I am not finding too much information about good tours to Nervi or Camogli, or how to get there on your own. So, we have started to consider just a day in Genoa, and then do a day trip to Capri or Sorrento when docked in Naples. What is your recommendation? I am taking my grandmother, and it is her first trip to Europe, so I want to make it memorable. I also acknowledge her age and health and do not want to strain her too much, as we do have a very port-intensive cruise, and have pre-cruise stays in Paris and Barcelona as well. What would you recommend we do about this?

 

Thank you again for your amazing review, you helped me so much!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Hi, I'm so glad you found the review useful!

Regarding the ports, I tend to use msc excursions, it makes me feel safer as I travel alone. They do a great job in offering different kinds of excursions, from laid back to adventure, so if you decide to go that route, keep an eye out for the description of how much walking and/or physical effort is required - the ones described as 1 and 2 are the lightest ones.

Port wise, In my humble opinion, Portofino is a bit overrated: yes, it is pretty, but it is also tiny, meaning it will be super crowded with hundreds of people from the ship, which I hate. Unless you're going in the low season, then it should be a bit better.

Have a great time!

Cheers,

Priscila

So......... embarkation began @ 11.45am and we were onboard in the MDR for lunch when it opened @ 12pm. Here's today's lunch menu:

 

 

 

We both opted for the baked fillet of cod from the buffet

 

 

And the boneless chicken thighs from the menu (which were hot and delicious)

 

 

For dessert we had the apple pie; I had cream with mine as I don't eat icecream

 

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Forums mobile app

You don’t eat ice cream? Bea, I’m shocked, lol

Have a fabulous cruise!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

+++quote+++

Movement is also encumbered by the predominant use of mirrors, glass and chromed metal surfaces throughout the public areas.* I have already witnessed several passenger walk into mirrors and glass panes, and at the risk of sounding lame, I have had had several near misses myself.*

***quote***

How is that possible!?

If Many of the 90 percent are unhappy as you claim, why are there so many repeat pax.

Exactly - i sailed twice in bella experience and would again in a heartbeat.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I love cruising and I can be happy on both ‘clubs’.

My last sailing, the YC inside cabin was way cheaper then a fantastica balcony, so there you go: my canoe soul was happy at the opportunity [emoji4]

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Everything about cruising is so subjective! I loved Meraviglia. Some didn't. You will have to discover for yourself! There is also a very active Facebook group about this ship and someone posted that their son's school play was better then cirque de Soleil show, I kid you not. Just to show that it is simply impossible to please every single person.

Happy cruising!

My family is booked on the Seaside in March 2018, first time cruising with MSC. I have been having a hard time getting info from MSC. I have emailed the company directly and even tried emailing our booking agent but I am not getting replies. We have travelled with RC, Carnival and Princess in the past and we were always kept informed about our trip. I see there has been itinerary changes on our cruise after the hurricanes but I never got an email to say changes were made. This is making us really nervous about sailing with MSC.

 

We are also having issues getting an invoice with payment info and nothing will show up when I log in to my account. Is anyone else having these issues with MSC? We are thinking of cancelling as we are so unsure about MSC:(

They reply fast on Facebook. You can also try calling and talking to a rep instead of mailing.

Happy sailing!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

The thing is....it isn't just about you and your particular cruise. Many, many people come to Cruise Critic for information. If it isn't made perfectly clear that those without Haven access shouldn't be in the Haven, imagine what would happen. EVERYONE thinks that their situation is different. It could be something as simple as "....my best friend of 30 years is sailing with us and doesn't have Haven access.....an extra 2 people isn't a big deal...." but if everyone thought that way, the Haven (on any ship) would be overcrowded. Now, imagine the people with Haven access who are stuck with a Haven experience that is filled with people who shouldn't have Haven access.

 

 

 

It's not the number of people. It's what those people are and aren't entitled to use based on their booked stateroom. Should everyone in a (non-Haven) suite who paid what your friends paid have Haven access also?

 

 

 

 

Again, it isn't the number of people that is an issue. The H2 DOS or H4 Family Villa on Escape (for ex.) sleeps 6. If 2 people are staying in that suite, they aren't given an "extra" 4 spots in the Haven to give to whomever booked a stateroom that doesn't have Haven access.

 

Many of the people responding aren't just responding to you. They are giving information that will be seen by those who are just lurking.

That’s exactly the issue - lots of people think their situation is unique.

If the concierge opens that precedent, soon enough the haven will be just an additional lounge space for all in the ship.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I’ve done a b2b on the Epic in June and wrote a review describing the turn over day and procedures - link is in my signature should you be interested.

Happy cruising!

Priscila

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Step 1

Step 2

First icon to take a pic or second icon to select from library.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Priscila

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thank you for the review!

Uploading pictures is tricky but easy once you get the hang of it!

If you’re using a desktop pc is harder: you need to first upload them to a photo hosting website, like photobucket, then use each pic individual link here;

If you are using smartphone or tablet, just click on the ‘+’ on the bottom, left hand side of the screen then click on the second icon and chose witch pic you want to upload from your library.

Good luck!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Okay so I am going on the Escape (2nd time) in less than 2 weeks as a graduation gift from my husband. I will be going solo, as he can't join me. I have taken a ton of cruises but this is my first time cruising solo... what are some pointers?

 

Side note: I am 37. The only reason I mention my age because it is more common for older people to cruise solo.

 

 

 

Sent from my LG-K212 using Forums mobile app

Are you staying in the studios? I enjoyed them very much on the Epic!

If you want company for dinner, join the studio lounge meet ups where a cruise staff takes everyone who is willing to eat together.

Have fun!

Sent from my iPad using Forums