Ironworker808

Do a different excursion at each port. That’s what I would do.

After reading the descriptions of the DOS (Epic) I am wondering what the view is from the living/dining area in 17004. We have that booked for a TA.

https://**********/a/IiSqC

Here’s a few pics of 17007. Same floor plan, mirror image. Hope this helps.

EDIT: Okay, apparently you can’t link to pic hosting sites, lol.

If you open the curtains fully, you can see the ocean past the balcony. You are going to love the cabin. It’s spectacular. We just booked our third cruise on the Epic, and we’ve been in 17007 for the first two, and will be again on our next.

Was just on the Epic Dec. 2-9. Bowling was $7 per person per game.

However, I wouldn’t recommend it if you throw a hook. They don’t oil the lanes! My first throw was in the gutter less than halfway down the lane.

John Watlings Distillery ( http://www.johnwatlings.com/ )

 

We walked to the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas http://nagb.org.bs/ (pretty cool, small art museum) and John Watlings is a few minutes walk past it. Free short tour too. We bought rum and a really nice gluten free vodka.

I’m going to second this!

As Miss Violet said, a short tour and a sample cup of pina colada made with the Buena Vista rum.

After the tour you are given the opportunity to purchase cocktails and bottles of the rum. I recommend the Buena Vista and the overproof. Both are very good.

Ok, I have been searching the forums for an answer to this question, and so far haven't really found anything that answers it, so I created this post. If there is an answer somewhere else, please point me to it.

 

I have recently booked the H2 Deluxe Owners Suite on the Epic for this January, and am trying to figure out a couple things.

 

The first thing that I am trying to understand, and NCL's site isn't very helpful on this, is do we get the rumored 3 bottles of liquor in our suite? If so, when and how, do we let them know what we would like as our 3 bottles? Following along on that it appears from some posts out there that in these suites we get free soda and water as well in the room. Is that true?

 

The second thing is how does the priority tendering work? It seems from most posts out there that you need reservations for a particular tender to go ashore?

 

I guess the third question, is do we need to make reservations ahead of time for any of the specialty restaurants or can we really just wing it since we are in the Haven?

 

Anything else we should know about the Haven? We have done Disney 3 times before in their one bedroom concierge level which was amazing and great. This trip is without the kids, so anything that is a must do on the Epic that we should know about.

 

Thanks in advance.

You do get three bottles of liquor in your room. You can call the pre concierge and order your bottles then. If you do preorder, they should be in your room when you get there. You should be receiving a letter with a list to chose from.

I upgraded the vodka to Ketel One for a $40 upcharge. Also upgraded the rum to Bacardi 8 for no extra charge!

Yes, free soda and water, too. You’ll be asked what different kinds of soda you want when you call. Three choices.

You’ll also get to chose what kind of pillows you want. If you’re undecided, they’ll bring them all to the room so you can try them out!

Also any special requests. I asked for a carton/pitcher of cranberry juice, since I like Cape Cod’s.

As said earlier, the concierge will make tendering arrangements for you. You’ll be shown where their desk is during the Haven tour that they will take you on your first day.

Make your reservations ahead of time if you want to eat in the restaurant. Definitely for Teppanyaki. We had our butler bring us the specialty dining room menus and had our other two dining nights in the room. I liked it better than going to the restaurant! If you choose to do this, write down what you want and give it to your butler with a time to serve it in the room. Our butler asked us to try and have it to him by noon.

If your drinkers, take advantage of Debbie in the Haven lounge and Raymond up on the sun deck. Deb makes a wonderful drink (her Long Island Ice Tea is to die for!), and has some very good original concoctions of her own. (I called them ‘Debbie in a glass!). Regardless what you order, it will be made to perfection. Mojitos, Moscow Mules, Dark & Stormies, Rebellious Fish, etc.

Raymond makes the best pina colada on the ship! So thick he has to shake it out of the container and into your glass, and pours a liberal shot of rum on top of it to finish it off.

We were in 17007 a couple of weeks ago. If you are in one of the forward suites, Roland should be your butler. If he is, your every need, want, and strange request will be promptly taken care of! My wife is dealing with a bone spur and rolling her foot on a bottle of frozen water is a great pain reliever. One mention to Roland, and she had a new bottle every evening she needed one.

And if Budi is your steward, your room will be immaculate!

Take advantage of room service! But order it through your butler to avoid the service charge. There’s a butler button on the phone in your suite. Also, if you want breakfast in your room, just fill out the cards in your room. If you want something from the Haven restaurant that’s not on the card...just write it in. Steak and eggs in your room before heading down for your priority tender is lovely.

Go Buckeyes!

 

 

 

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Close...

Go Bucs! (Tampa Bay fan) ;p

Not quite as easy as you may think. Even if a cruise line may have a contract with a network, there may be an exclusion of certain broadcasts if associated with a business (I.e., a cruise line). Sort of like "regional black outs."

Cruise lines do just fine without American focused sports. Don't hold your breath.

Now, maybe if it was the Kentucky Derby or the Olympics???? But, even then, how would that improve the ship's bottom line income? Passengers drink whether the bar is or is not showing something on the TV. In fact, they probably do better with the higher turnover when there's nothing to keep folks planted.

 

 

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Ahh. Hadn’t thought about that. You could be right.

And yes, they do quite well even not showing American sports. That’s why I said I didn’t think a sports bar would ever happen. O’Sheehans is the closest we’re gonna get, lol.

Ya know, I just happen to be down here in Miami working for the next couple of months. The hotel I’m staying in is right next door to Carnival’s corporate HQ. And earlier today I drove by NCL’s HQ while on a hardware run.

If I can find the time, I think I’ll stop by and see if anyone will talk to me about this subject. I’m just curious enough (and extremely sport-centric enough!) to waste the time trying, lol.

Good talk, Flatbush Flyer!

Econ 101:

 

The ship will fill up based primarily on itinerary and price. Again, the number of folks for whom sports on TV is a "deal breaker" is negligible (and, if lost, they are easily replaced);

Showing pro/college sports outside of regular broadcast contracts cost money;

Ergo, no unnecessary extra cost (to the ship) items (unless the cruise line wants to do payperview at some outrageous price that adds to their bottom line.

 

 

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The booking scenarios are valid points. Cruisers that would book based on sporting events would probably top out at 0.5%, lol.

What Pro/college games are shown outside of regular broadcast contracts? All the games I’ve mentioned are on standard cable broadcast. Obviously, the Epic at least, has access to FOX, CBS, NBC, and ESPN. one can assume that they also have access to ABC. Those five channels will get you access to every major sporting event broadcast in the US, including NASCAR, along with tennis and golf majors. Contracts are between the sports leagues and the broadcasters. If NCL is paying for access to the channels through a standard cable contract, it doesn’t cost them anything extra to show what those channels are broadcasting. Pay per view is usually for fighting sports. Boxing, MMA, etc.

Look, all I’m saying is that if (American) cruisers knew they would be able to watch sports, it’s another draw to NCL. Another ‘perk’, if you will.

I don’t think it’ll ever happen, but if NCL started setting aside space for a dedicated sports bar, with as sports-centric as Americans are, it would stay packed from open to close.

Maybe not the best poll to use to support an argument regarding college football (or any particular sport). It only asks about being a "sports fan." So, that would include all sorts of sports from football to basketball to soccer to cricket to track to .....

 

I'm a Buckeye sports fan. But, I can DVR the important games and not eat up my cruise time.

 

Finally, "standing room" only in a bar (or two) on some mega-ship with thousands of passengers is pretty much a "rounding error."

 

 

 

 

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It might be a rounding error, but the point is if American sports are shown on a US based cruise, people are going to take the time to watch it.

Was just on the Epic a couple weeks ago (Dec. 2-9) and they showed an NFL game at 1pm, 4pm, and 8pm on Sunday, the Monday night game, and the Thursday night game. O’Sheehans was packed for every game they showed. Some were fans of the teams playing, complete with jerseys, hats, and other team apparel. Most (like me) we’re watching because we’re fans of the game.

Fans of the game might be more inclined to cruise in mid January if they know there’s a good chance they will be able to see their teams playoff game while on that ship.

I know this thread is focusing on college football, but this topic could be about any of the ‘big four’ American sports in addition to college sports (mainly football and basketball). I understand that they wouldn’t show sports all day, every day but I think big games...like final four, bowl games, playoff games/series would be a huge draw.

Random NFL games were a huge draw on my cruise, but then, the NFL is the most popular spectator sport in the US.

Who would want to broadcast college games and who would want to watch it? I think premiership football is more suitable for cruises!

Who would want to broadcast organized kickball games and who would want to watch it?

See? I can sound ignorant, too.

NCL never had a contract for college football (US). NCL has a single international sports channel. You are not in the US any more and there are many non-US passengers who don’t care about US colleges.

 

 

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The Epic is currently sailing out of Port Canaveral. Not sure if you’re aware of this, but Port Canaveral is in the United States. So yeah. You are in the US. And a lot of people here do care about US colleges. And they care about US college sports teams.

Just got off of the Epic this morning.

Posh tickets were sold for this cruise. 20 of them.

We were booked Haven, but while up there met a couple that had purchased the tickets. They said there were only 20 tickets available.

Only been on one cruise so far. Went early to get the most out of it.

Was going to go later on this next cruise (10 days from today! Woot!) but have another couple traveling with us, and this is the first cruise for both of them, so we’re going early again so they can experience as much time on the ship as possible.

A rainy day at sea is still better than a sunny day at work!

IS this a free cruise or just Free entry

There is a $350,000 poker tournament on the Dec. 2 sailing of the Epic.

We’re looking for people who have won a seat at this tournament but for whatever reason, can’t make the cruise, and purchase their entry for less than the actual cost of entry.

So it’s not a free cruise or a free entry. Paid for cruise and discounted entry would be a more accurate statement, lol.

Also looking for a seat that can’t be used.

After Pkz57, of course.

It will be billed to your account, yes.

Awesome. Thank you!

Can this service be paid for with onboard credit?

Back in March, didn’t see a “Haven” security line. Went through security, found an NCL employee, and they took us to the Haven check in area.

Does this apply to Haven suites as well?

So what are you to do with all of your luggage?

Managing luggage and two small kids for a few hours sounds easier said than done and just adds to the very reason you take a vacation.....STRESS.

When DW and I were on the Epic, after we were given the Haven tour, we were invited to go drop off our carryons in the room. Couldn’t stay, but were definitely allowed to drop off. Also, being Haven your checked bags will receive priority. We had ours by the time the room was ready for us to occupy.

EDIT: Checked bags are delivered to your room.

I'm on the Feb. 24th sailing of the Epic and received the attached email this morning. It lists several upcoming Epic sailings including yours.

Yep. Same attachment. 👍🏼

Received an email from NCL for the Dec. 2 cruise this morning.

Sat. Orlando

Sun. Nassau, Bahamas

Mon. At sea

Tue. Falmouth, Jamaica

Wed. Georgetown, Grand Cayman

Thur. At sea

Fri. Great Stirrup Cay

Sat. Orlando

Hope this helps anyone looking for info.

Since many on this thread are past suite guests ....if you have the owners suite double balcony and you have the suite perk of unlimited drinks, yet you still get 3 bottles of booze, can you just pack them for home? Unopened of course!

 

 

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I did! lol.

We went through about half of both the vodka and rum, but never opened the bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey. Last morning, figured what the hell, I'll give it a shot. Stuffed it into the bag with all of our Nassau purchases, and showed it to customs. No issues whatsoever. Finally finished it up a couple of weeks ago. (Cruise was this past March.)

I've been on the Epic 2x during football season, in recent years, and they showed NFL games. If I recall correctly, they showed one early, late, and night game on Sunday. The early and late ones on Sunday were on the Fox network. They showed the Mon and Thurs night games, also.

 

A few years ago, they showed most of the college bowl games.

Well that's good news. I was really looking forward to watching football in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, lol. Wasn't going to ruin my vacation by not being able to, just thought it would be neat.

Thanks for the info.

They do show football, but they don't broadcast baseball:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1943

Fleet wide except the Epic.

Sigh. Figures. Going to be on the Epic the first week in December, just as the Bucs are going to be starting their playoff push! Was hoping to sit at O'Sheenans and have a few drinks while watching the game.

Oh, well. Guess I'll have to wait until the following Saturday.