tsahall01

I was on the December TA on the Epic. We were first supposed to be delayed 1 night in Lisbon, which we thought was cool--more Christmas shopping. Got on board, and it was announced later that night that we would be leaving Lisbon at 2 am and not staying over until 2am the next night. Darn! If I would have known that, I would have gotten back off the ship and done some shopping. Oh well! Of course, because of the dock strike (the original reason for delays--which they knew about long before), we missed our first port stop (out of 2) of Ponta Delgada--I am now 0 for 3 attempts to go there. Seas were rough, weather was cold--possible hurricane headed our way (December!). Then, the night before our second port stop, Bermuda, it too, was cancelled and another sea day added. So our 9 day TA with 2 stops turned into a 9 day non stop from Lisbon to NYC. I love sea days, but planned on doing Christmas shopping along the way. We were all given $200 non-refundable OBC per cabin--as a solo traveler, I got the $200 as well. We did NOT get any FCC %. It was very hard to spend that $200 in just 2 days! I really think that the gift shops removed all their lower cost jewelery and things before the announcement of the OBC--they had almost nothing to buy! Didn't want to buy liquor as I was flying and already had two high cost bottles of port packed away in my suitcase (they didn't take away liquor when we boarded!). My husband ended up getting cheesey NCL logo merchandice and I got a top that I would never have bought if I was paying for it ($100!!). I would have loved to use the $200 on a future cruise and gotten a % FCC! Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose--gotta smile!

Welcome to St Thomas, my home for the last 22 years!! Have a great time! Magens is one of my favorite beaches and is only 5 minutes away from my house--I can see it from my driveway!

On my last 2 cruises (September and December) they did not have any regular coffee, only decaf! I would bring my own pods to be on the safe side. I had to go to Starbucks every day to get coffee as I cannot drink the horrible ship's coffee

Yes, in the dining rooms (in the mornings) and buffet. But the coffee is STRONG and very bitter! I have tried to cut it with water, but it does not get rid of the bitterness (I drink my coffee black). IMHO it is undrinkable--I don't like Starbucks either, but it is better than the ship's coffee!

The last 3 cruises I was on, cruise #1 had both regular and decaf available, but ran out of regular mid cruise. Cruise #2 & #3 (September and December--both in Europe), NO regular but lots of decaf. For cruise #3, I was going to bring some pods, but ran out of time--this was also when they started charging for room service, so had to wait until I went to Starbucks before breakfast for my coffee. I have tried, but just cannot drink what they call coffee in the dining rooms! I will be sure to bring coffee pods for my next cruise--I would rather have too much coffee than having no coffee!

My GSC is Ponta Delgada. Hitting 0 of 3 times. Once was due to a hurricane in November and then again a hurricane in December! Third was bad weather in April. Maybe someday! I'll keep trying!

After booking, I always contact my PCC so that he does get credit, I just prefer doing my own booking with no pressure to upgrade or change unless it is something I want or need. But a good point. Those guys, for the most work really hard

Next to each elevator is a keycard sensor. Haven guests can use that to call an elevator for their exclusive use! Maybe it has changed since September as MANY guests were really pissed off about it and complained. September the Epic was full. Epic being Epic, there are only elevators in the aft and forward areas and not in the mid section. I was on the Epic in April, no problem (low occupancy) and again in December for the TA (again low occupancy). I think that the problem arises when there is high occupancy and an urgent need to get off the ship while in port or maybe to dinner. We complained to the front desk, but don't think anything will come of it. Again, this happened with high occupancy and prime time elevator usage. A lot of people gave up and used the stairs--not an option with us being elderly and one of us was handicapped.

To avoid problems with Haven Guests on the Epic hijacking the elevators (happened a LOT on my September cruise--3 of the elevators were in use for Haven guests. One time I was even on an elevator going down and the elevator stopped at a random level and said that the elevator was no longer in use and to exit!!!! This was after waiting a LOOOOONG time for an elevator) Most of the Haven guests are in forward rooms so the aft elevators don't get hijacked as much! I wouldn't mind so much if they had one elevator dedicated to Haven Guests, but to have the possibility of all the elevators in use by Haven Guests is just unacceptable!

I have booked many times where a cabin was not available to choose--it was NOT a guarantee, but last minute booking. I thought that bidding for upgrades might have had a play in the cabin selection. It DOES happen! I book all my cruises through the website and then contact my PCC for further details and questions. One time, he told me that for $15 I could choose my stateroom when that was not an option when booking which I happily did.

Welcome to my home!! I can see Magens from my driveway and Tortola and St John from my back deck. It has been cold and windy lately (for us island folks anyway). Have a wonderful visit and enjoy the island!

You are right! I got pending mixed up with processing! Blonde Senior Moment (double whammy!) Hope OP gets his upgrade!

That usually means that you got an upgrade!! You should be getting an email soon with the information. You can also check your cruise summary to see if they assigned you a new cabin

I have to laugh! While on the TA on the Epic in early December, I asked the Shore Excursions desk about the ferry. They did not know what I was talking about and had no information on it at all! I had taken the ferry in April when I was on the Epic TA in April--they had schedules and information then--I guess they had a memory loss between April and December!! It ended up being moot, as the port stop was cancelled due to inclement weather!

Sorry--does not float!! How time consuming is it to make a mojito? How about a long island ice tea? Miami vice? Mango tango? Pain killer?? Lots of drinks are time consuming, it's not just shots. People can get just as drunk drinking straight shots as they can mixed shots, so that doesn't make sense either. Best arguement is the lack of TRAINED staff--but those bartenders should be working at slower bars or slower shifts when there is a TRAINED bartender to show them how to do it.

Here is an updated one from 2022--surprised that it still has Capt Morgans on it! Unlimited-Open-Bar-0922.pdf

Sorry--that is outdated! It's from 2019. A lot has changed--Baileys and Capt Morgan for example.

mixed shots are often times layered which does take up a little bit of time, but mixed drinks, like a painkiller, or frozen drinks, like a mudslide or bushwacker are also time consuming--often times it is just the preception. BUT!! With shots, you can get drunker faster if you don't watch your consumption--when you're with a group, it could spell trouble real fast. But again, you can get real drunk on single liquor shots just as well, so really the point is moot.

No, it is not per day, that is the total amount of gratuities for the cruise per person. There is a $15 limit for each drink, but if you order a $16 drink, you will be charged $1.00 plus 20%. So if you drink 2 $15 drinks a day, you will be saving money! Don't recall the actual charge per day for the drink package as it has changed, but it is around $21/day. It is true that both persons in the cabin have to get it. Even non drinkers can easily go over $25/day by drinking virgin drinks and sodas.

A work around for the mini beers is to order a regular shot of Licor 43 and ask for a shot of heavy cream on the side--it's easy to float it! I make them at home all the time! I imagine that this came about as the 2 ingredient shots are time consuming and a PITB for bartenders to make when it is really busy (ex bartender and bar manager--plus was an assistant bar manager on a cruise ship)--with limited staffing I could see where this would be a problem. I got an eyeroll on the Epic in September when I ordered a mini beer at O Sheehan's when they were busy--I waited a long time to order and only after I ordered did I realize why I got the eyeroll!! That being said, you really can't say you have certain drinks only when it is slow--it's gotta be all or none.

Thanks Bird!! I've done a sailing before as Platinum, but this sailing will be as 3rd in cabin, so "free" cruise. I'm the only one that is Platinum. Just didn't know if I would get the benefits on a free cruise.

I am newly Platinum and so far love the benefits!! I have an upcoming cruise where I am listed as #3 (of 4) in the cabin, so my fare is "free". Will I still recieve my Platinum dinners and other things? Thanks!

It has been my understanding that they just did the Haven area. I have been on the Epic twice this year with one more sailing in December. I noticed many more things in need of attention on my September cruise--my April cruise was absolutely wonderful!

I did a westbound TA from Europe to Bermuda to Miami (with stops in between). We DID NOT clear customs in Bermuda, and customs in Miami was a cluster****. I am on the Dec 7th Epic TA and sure hope that Bermuda drops the requirement or NCL drops the port. I have heard that they plan on keeping the Bermuda testing/authorization until 3/2023. I have also heard that the Cruise Lines are working with the Bermuda Government to change/alter the regulations.