dogwalfal

Any tips for newbies? Leaving Sunday!

How are you alerted when they are ready?

Ideally I'm looking for a place on the beach to rent a lounger and get a snack/drinks. A place with a pool would be fantastic! It does not have to be the best restaurant as I'm not really planning on eating more than a snack.

Any beach restaurant recommendations?

What were the other beaches you had on your list? I do want to try to find a lounger.

Palma!

 

Because of all the tours we had planned, I knew we would be tired by this last port. I knew we just wanted a beach day, so I didn't do too much planning for this port. That morning I went to the internet cafe and looked up a few beaches. When we got off the ship, we approached a few taxi drivers with my list of beaches. These were all beaches right in Palma. Well, these taxis drivers all said these beaches would be crowded, touristy, rocky, or polluted. And, yes, one driver talked this weary traveler into an overpriced trip to a beach about 30 minutes outside of the city. Our driver stayed with us and drove us back.

 

Our taxi driver's name was Santi and he took us to Camp De Mar. It was a lovely beach...soft sand and clear water. My only complaint-no loungers to rent. We had our beach towels and just sat in the sand. After taking a walk along the beach and soaking up some sun, we went to the restaurant at the beach. Illeta is located across a short boardwalk/bridge and sits over the water. We enjoyed a nice pitcher of sangria. DD had the tuna tartar, DH had the sea bass, and I had a salad. After our meal, we stopped for ice cream at one of the shops, got back in our taxi, and headed back to the ship. It was a lovely and relaxing day, just a bit pricey!

 

Disembarkation!

Our flight was scheduled for 6:30 PM, so I scheduled a tour to Montserrat with Barcelona Day Tours to help pass the time. Our guide was scheduled to pick us up at 8:30, so we walked off with our luggage and met her outside. For us, disembarking was quick and easy.

 

Montserrat is about a 45 minute drive from Barcelona. It was an adventure on a narrow and winding road up the mountain. And there were plenty of people hiking and biking up the mountain! I was tired just watching them. The views from the top are breathtaking. The air was clear and cool. As it was a Sunday, we visited the church first as mass was scheduled to start at 11:00. The line to see the Black Madonna was very long, so we didn't wait. We also didn't take the cable car to the very top of the mountain. DH and DD are afraid of heights and the cable car went straight up the mountainside which was a little too much for me too! We walked through some of the exhibits, strolled through the gift shops, and grabbed a quick snack at the cafeteria. We rejoined our driver and began our journey down the mountain. We had time for a quick photo stop at the Saint Cecilia church.

 

We arrived at the airport around 2:00. We had to wait in the ticket counter area for about 45 minutes as the check in lines were not open yet. Again, we flew Norwegian. Our gate was SO far away for the ticket counter. I felt like we were walking forever! Also, there were limited food options after the second round of passport control, so if you are hungry, you may want to stop before you get too close to your gate. Yours truly got chosen for "enhanced security" measures and had the pleasure of being swabbed down by Spanish security officers. Other than that, our time at the Barcelona airport was uneventful.

 

We arrived back in the US around 9:00 local time and took a taxi to our hotel and collapsed into bed. We were back up bright and early for our 9:00 flight to Tampa. Our "Epic" European adventure had come to an end...just like this trip report! Thank you all for following along! Again, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have!

Can I ask who you are using in Rome that drops at colosseum? We want to do on our own too. Thanks

Hi Can anyone confirm if its easy to get a tendered slot early in the morning for a non NCL excursion . We have a tour meet time for 9am in canes but have heard the NCL tours get first slots for the boat trip to shore .

Also for our Rome excursion we have done a rome on your own day with a drop off at the colosseum then a pick up at St Peters Square later on for the return bus trip back to port .. anyone find any issues finding the pick up point in ST Peters ..

many thanks

Looking forward to hearing more. Thanks.

Was it covered? Any noise issues?

Anyone been in cabin 8047 on the Epic? How is the balcony covered or not?

 

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Thanks ordering them now!

I'm a notorious over packer so my best advice would be to not over pack! ;p

 

There were a couple things I did find helpful, however. We bought a pack of magnetic hooks to hang swimsuits, raincoats, etc. in the room and leave the other hooks already in the room for towels. Here's a link to the ones I bought.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L75YPRA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I also brought an extra card (similar to a hotel room key) for our lights. You need to have a room key in a slot to make the electricity in your room work, but I know I'd forget my room key in the slot all the time. So I grabbed one of those rewards cards that you get from just about everywhere and left that in the slot the whole trip.

 

Other than that, just bring your patience and a sense of humor. :)

thanks for this post! Going in August for 1st time and was worried about some reviews but research is key! Any tips for stuff to pack that's a bit different? Stuff for the room? Thanks.

Thanks so much!

quote=EllieinNJ;56301054]When you get off the free shuttle from the ship there are some booths set up offering different tours. Some are taxi tours and then there is Civita Tours offering three different ones. One is just a bus to Rome and back for 19 euros pp. Another is called the Classic tour with more intensive sightseeing for 40 euros pp plus charge for headsets. Ours was the Panoramic tour for 29.50 euros pp. There is a guide on the bus describing what we are seeing in Rome. There are three stops..the Vatican and Coliuseum for picture taking and bathroom breaks and near the Trevi Fountain for two hours for lunch. You can walk to the Spanish Steps from there, back to the fountain, the Pantheon, Plaza Navarro and meet up across the river at a designated place.

Their website says to be there around 9:15am. We got off the ship around 8:15am.

Can I ask more about the Rome trio? We also have been before but not our teenager. We got engaged at the Spanish Steos so want to go back. Would this tour allow that?

PORTS AND EXCURSIONS

 

 

Researching all the ports was very time consuming. I knew that NCL excursions were very expensive and I had been to some of the places before so didn't want to go with the large private excursion tours, except for Cannes and St. Petersburg, which I'll talk about later.

 

 

Barcelona - Flew in around 10:00am on Delta from JFK. Took the Aerobus (5.90 euros pp) from the airport to Place Catalunya, where our hotel was located. Stayed at Hotel Ginebra, right on Place Catalunya, a small B&B but the location was great. Took someone's advice and did the Turistic hop on/hop off bus that day (discount for booking on line and senior discount). All three lines - about 5 hours. Went to bed around 9pm and in the morning felt great and rested.

 

 

Next day had 10:30am time for Park Guell. Also booked senior tickets on line. Left hotel around 9:30 and took bus #24 straight there. Had to go down to the metro to buy the bus ticket. The bus stop is on front of the Ingles Dept. store. It was very nice, but I expected more. Stayed until around 1pm. Had 2:45pm time for Sagrada Familia, also booked senior on line.

Read that the walk between them was only 1/2 hour, but in retrospect, should have taken a bus or metro. You can buy a 10 ride T10 ticket that you can share for 10 rides. We got there around 2:30 and they let us in anyway. Just beautiful. Then walked back to our hotel, again should have taken transportation. After dinner walked down La Rambla to the Bari Gothic old town, which was great.

 

 

Got a cab to the pier the next day. Cost was 16 euros.

 

 

Naples - Was in this area before on a land trip and already saw Pompei, Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. Decided to do Capri DIY. The ferry terminal was very close to where the Epic docked so we bought one way tickets there because it was leaving in less than 5 minutes by the time we got there, planning on buying the ferry tickets back, once in Capri. Big mistake. When trying to buy the tickets in Capri, the time we wanted to leave, 4:30pm, was sold out. I think this is the time used by all the ship and private tours. We had to book the 3:25pm time because we were afraid of using a later time. Took the funicular to Capri Town and walked around. It was mostly shops and restaurants. Then took a bus to Anacapri, which was really nice and had beautiful views. The highlight was taking the cable car to the top of the mountain and back. Spectacular.

 

 

Started back around 2pm and waited for the bus to the ferry pier. After five buses to Capri Town came and none for the pier, we were panicking. Finally a bus came around 3:10 and we knew we would miss the ferry and we did. DH started running when he thought the ferry was still in port and hurt his back, which impacted on us for the rest of the trip. We asked if we could please get on the 4:30 ferry and they did let us on.

 

 

 

Rome (Civitavecchia) - Also being in Rome before and seeing the Colliseum and Vatican in depth, we planned on either taking the train in or taking one of the cheaper tours that sold tickets at the port. We decided on Civita Tours and took their panoramic tour for around 29.50 euros pp. It was just right for us. We did stop at those places for photos, but did not go inside. The guide spoke great English and for lunch left us on our own for two hours before heading back. We did walk pass the Trevi fountain and Plaza Novarro and the Pantheon and then across the bridge to other beautiful building which we had never seen before. Perfect.

 

 

Livorno (Florence/Pisa) - Again, having already seen Florence, we wanted to see Pisa and Lucca. Took the port bus into the city and the Tuscany bus tour was right there at the same stop. Their tour was 28 euros pp for 3 hours in Lucca and 90 minutes in Pisa. They also go to Florence. Check out their website. This tours was the best for us. Guide spoke great English and just right.

 

 

Cannes - This was the only port on the Epic where we booked and paid for a professional tour in advance. We knew that we wanted to go to Monaco but because it was Grand Prix week, all the tours there were cancelled. We did find Liven Up Tours, who made a special tour for our date only, going to Monaco, Monte Carlo, Eze and La Turbie from 12pm to 5pm for 62 euros pp. The drive along the coast was spectacular and the cities we saw were wonderful.

 

 

 

Palma de Mallorca - We again booked a hop on/hop off bus senior on line and really glad we did. By this time, DH's back was really sore and needed to rest. City was pretty and castle looked great but just stayed on bus for whole trip around.

 

 

MORE TO COME.

Man I'm getting so excited! I told my family we are eating salads only for at least a week before we leave! LOL

Thanks for the information.

Does anyone know if there is a nice beach near the port or a hotel that would sell a day pass? Just looking to relax and not have to go to far from the port. Thanks.[/quote

The No 3 bus or taxi to Illetas beach , sun loungers , pedalo's and paddle boards and changing facilities.

You would need to go to Palma Nova beach to find more water sport activities, I would choose Illetas beach ,very safe sandy beach with shallow water.

There is an exclusive beach club also there see below.

 

https://www.purobeach.com/en/beach-club-illetas/

 

 

https://www.seemallorca.com/beaches/...resort)-664304

What would be the earliest time we could board?

Are these all ages or adults only?

Fabba (80's dance party) You might have a White Hot Party or a Glow Party those are the general themes.

Thanks for all this info! I must read though to find out where we want to go!

Thanks so much!

Bags & Go https://bagsandgo.com/en/ We always use them at Barcelona - pre book for a small discount - the price is per bag no matter size. When you collect your bags in the cruise terminal you walk through customs and look for their sign - hand over the bags collect your paperwork and head out the door bag less. Leave plenty of time to find them at the airport as if you are flying short haul with a budget airline you will need to transfer between terminals - super easy though. you can easily get to the airport from the center of Barcelona on the AEROBÚS which cost about 6 euros and run every few minutes

Can you please tell me more about the Barcelona bag transfer? We have some time before our flight and would love to have lunch before heading to the airport.

I've done this cruise few years back.

 

Naples: We took a train to Pompeii and joined a tour group that are always out there. They will get you in faster than on your own.

 

Rome: We thought about taking a train, but there were bunch of buses, offering 20 euro round trip, which drops you off few feet away from Vatican. We walked all over the place, and took subway (very easy to use).

 

Livorno: NCL provided a bus that took us out of the port (that one is pretty industrial area, you shouldn't walk there) and we took a train to Pisa. 10 minute walk and we are watching tourists propping up tower for photos.

 

Cannes: Took a train to Eze village. Amazing place.

 

Mallorca: Very easy to walk around, we checked out cathedral, and city in general. Surprisingly beautiful island.

 

Barcelona: They offer an airport bag transfer service now. We dropped off our bags and went to explore the city. Took a train to airport after and picked up our bags.

 

Europe is a piece of cake on your own.

Following this post as I'm interested in the same things.

Does anyone know if there are hotels in Cannes that offer day use of pools for a fee? Thanks.

I'm a total newbie too and thanks for your post! I had some of those questions too. Super pumped for the Epic in August from Barcelona!

What is the age limit for the kids menu at these SD restaurants Thanks.

Thank you for information and not a scolding for asking. :)

quote=cocod08;55572807]If he wants s quiet place to read there is a spot up on deck 18 that is very quiet. You take one of the elevators out o. The pool deck and go to the front of the ship. No pool or hot tubs but it is quiet.

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I know it's adults only but how strict is that? I have a very mature 15 year old that just likes to relax and read. Also is it ever open to all ages? Thanks.