SullytheBFG

Thanks!

Jan 2016 you could smoke at the left hand side of the bar.

We did a B2B from Miami to the Caribbean with the same itinerary each week. The first week we didn't have Vibe passes the second week we did. It really made our holiday and felt it was well worth the money and not windy.

The bar staff looked after us so well and when they were packing up the bar in the evening we got a bottle of Prosecco in an ice bucket which we didn't ask for but thoroughly enjoyed!

How do you get to the US website? If I add .com it just sends me to the UK one or are people using a VPN?

Interested in the price difference even with the bad exchange rate!

We were on the Epic end of September/beginning of October last year and had Posh passes. It is very sheltered and we had no problems with wind the weather in June should be lovely with long summer days.

We cruised out of Barcelona last October on the Epic, we had the free UBP.

The only VAT I paid was on two drinks that I had which were over the $15 price. That was on the difference of the $15 to the price and then the VAT. So a very small amount.

They were the only drinks I had to sign for.

I got an upsell to the Haven from a balcony on the Epic last October. I didn't get an email just kept an eye on the prices online as the cruise got closer. Called the normal UK number and I just paid the difference between the two cabins plus I also got the extra free at sea benefits.

Not sure if that is the same for all ships, they were very helpful.

I have been on the Epic 4 times and have another cruise booked on her this year. We have also been on other NCL and RC ships.

We have always had a good time on her. Plenty of space, great entertainment and choice of restaurants.

Go with an open mind,unfortunately people who don't like things tend to be more vocal.

Enjoy and have fun!

Priscilla, absolutely excellent show!

I recall there was swearing in it a couple of times, which is why it may not be considered child friendly.

By free drinks packages, do you mean alcohol packages? Because I don't think Royal is offering any free alcohol packages right now. (I'd love it if I were wrong).;)

They were on UK bookings, free alcohol drinks package and 2nd person 50% off.

Now they are just doing buy one get on half price. :-(

The USD is so strong against the pound you could probably get a great deal!

It might come back......

Sorry checked again and the free drinks package and 50% off 2ns passenger is on European sailings.

I think you are right that it is probably the DSC and confusion.

I like to pay my DSC in advance.

I booked in the UK yesterday and got the UBP and we do not pay any extra gratuities on top. Here the price you see is the price you pay, same as when you go to a shop if it says £19.99 that's what you pay at the till no added extra tax. It is already included in the price.

What I did elect to have added and prepay was the daily service charge at £59.50 per week per person.

I am not sure why any UK resident would book via the US with the horrible exchange rate for us.

I have been on both.....

I really like the central park bit on the Harmony, The Wonderland restaurant is fabulous. Entertainment is good, Rubicon is fun, some of the bars lacked a bit of something. Adult seating area is great.

Escape love the restaurants on the waterfront, speciality dining is excellent, entertainment is good, bars good. H2O is really nice with the grotto for cooling off. Buffet is better and bigger.

We had a balcony room on both so would say the cabins are comparable.

Hard choice, I would say it comes down to price and port choices. Both are offering promotions at the moment such as free drinks packages.

Make sure you have proof printed of your original perks.

We upsold from balcony to the haven and our UBP and dining disappeared off our booking. We were in the Caribbean and booked through the UK.

NCL emailed the office who said no we didn't have the UBP or dining. I ended up calling NCL UK who said yes it was all there and got them to talk to the boat. Took two days to clear it up!

They did say just use your cards and order drinks normally, I was just a bit scared with getting whacked by a big bar bill!

Make sure you have a chip and pin card, Visa is the preferred card.

In Stockholm it depends the big ships tend to go to Nynashamn as already stated. Most tourists head for Gamla Stan (old town).

The Archipelago is beautiful to sail through and starts a long way out. I may be biased as I am married to a Swede and all the family is in Stockholm!

Public transport both buses and trains are very good and precise in Sweden.

Definitely Le Bistro.

La Cucina is the worst very salty and horrible American Italian food.

Just my opinion......

If coming by train you can get the bus from the train station which goes to the Red Jet terminal just get off the stop before.

Check the Port of Southampton website cruise ship schedule.

Aida and P and O tend to use port 46.

I spend far to often on the Isle of Wight ferry!.........

Check the distance from the airport to the port. Barcelona to the port is about a 15 minute taxi trip, Rome is over an hour away.

I think the Epic is a bit like Marmite.

We love the ship and have sailed on her 4 times with another one booked. I like the bathroom layout and also like big ships.

That's why there are lots of different ships and cruise lines, different people like different things!

Life would be boring if we were all the same.......

I saw the BMG on the Epic some years ago and enjoyed it but wouldn't watch it again. Absolutely loved Priscilla and will happily watch it again when I go back on the Epic later this year! Much better choice by NCL.

The only people who seemed to have a problem with it were some of the American passengers.

We were on the Epic last week and also had a great time. The entertainment was brilliant.

Would thoroughly recommend her and we have been on a few different ships and lines.

Due to the weak pound it doesn't make sense for the UK to book through the US.

Also if you do get a drinks promotion there is no 18% gratuity on top to pay in the UK.

It seems messy, can we have the old site back please!

Sully can I be cheeky and ask how much they offered it to you for? We were also offered the 2 bed @ $1000 each, I'm curious to compare.

We paid £1000 for 3 of us. I looked at the price that was on the NCL site and basically paid the difference. We oiginally had the drinks and dining package for free when we booked then they gave in addition the OBC and free wifi.

If you are in the UK $1k each seems a bit high, what is the current price for the suite on the cruise?

Just call the main NCL UK number. I did it last week and got and upsell from a balcony to a two bedroom suite in the Haven.

We got them from guest services on the Escape they were handing out numbers. People were running to guest services when they boarded!

We were early on as we were on a B2B.

Worth every penny.