spenecer

Day 7, Drink #3 - Talisker 12 year We are at Cagney’s for dinner. I’m very afraid of spilling a red wine on myself because I wore white. So, I got a whisky neat. The Talisker has a nice smokey flavor. Drink #4 - Prosecco I prefer red wine with steak but I chose the Prosecco as a substitute to protect my white dress from accidents.

I offered the teen club multiple times to my daughter but at 16, I am definitely in a ‘lead a teen to water but I can’t make her drink’ scenario. She did really like the excursions and we had many early morning excursions so she couldn’t sleep in. She chose to go to bed at a reasonable hour (with no encouragement from me) for the excursions instead of staying up late doing the teen things. Some of them didn’t even start until 10pm.

My daughter didn’t want to meet anyone her age but there are posses of teenagers going around the ship. I did arrange for her to meet up with some girls her age but she didn’t want to participate. We watched Karaoke, we made balloon animals (which was actually a splash academy event for little kids) and we made origami cranes.

I’m not doing Spice H2O since my daughter is too young but the smokestack is still dropping rusty water down on Spice and the rock climbing wall. I’ve walked through the area and come away with brown spots on my ankles and shins. It really depends on the direction the wind is blowing. During the day yesterday, the wind was blowing sideways across the ship (port to starboard) so I walked on the port side and was fine.

I won dog trivia with 16 correct dog breeds. I won a clear bag.

Best of St. Kitts with Fairview Great House (Booked through NCL website) I looked at so many different excursions for St. Kitts that I spent the majority of the tour thinking that I was on a different tour. We met the tour at the end of the pier. We were divided into groups of ~15 and loaded onto an air conditioned mini-bus. The driver was also our tour guide. He drove us through Basseterre with commentary of the buildings, some historical facts and terrible Dad jokes (by definition all Dad jokes are terrible). We then headed up the coast of St. Kitts to our first stop, Fairview Great House (30 minutes). The guide let us out of the bud but did not guide us around the site. This was wander on your own time. We then drove with more information on the island education system, history, and dad jokes to our second stop, Romney Manor (30 minutes). We saw the Petroglyphs and Wingfield Estate on the way, but did not stop. Sometimes, the driver would stop the bus to point out an item but mostly he told us which direction look (hey guys, look to your right). We then continued up the coast and ascended the Hill to Brimstone Fortress, 45 minutes. I learned a lot about fruit trees and St. Kitts history (and yes Dad jokes) on the way. The driver then brought us back to the pier along a different route so that we saw some different sights, heard different history, and had to go around two car accidents (and more Dad jokes). I’m glad I didn’t have to drive. Things I saw: Goats, Chickens, Horses, Cows, Horses. Things that I did not see: Wild Green Monkeys (just a sign saying, prepare for the next invasion) It did rain on and off at Brimstone Fortress. The stones are slick and many places were steep. While the rest of the tour was doable for someone with mobility issues, Brimstone Fortress definitely required careful walking. The mini-bus carried a walker and the driver even stopped to check and see if a woman determinedly walking up the road to Brimstone Fortress needed a ride. There was one older gentleman who had mobility issues, he did not get out at Brimstone Fortress but stayed on the bus which the driver kept running (so air-conditioned). We had a family of five on our tour and they thought it was a good tour.

For the Glow Party, they played Party Music related to dancing (mostly more recent stuff because the DJ put on Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana and all the teenagers just stood there looking extremely confused) and the cruise director and his team led the dancing. I danced. My daughter did not. The Epic used DJ JOBOY on the Pool Deck and he was DJing on the Pool Deck for the hour prior to the GLOW Party and he simply continued choosing the music while the Cruise Staff led the dancing.

Day 7, Drink #2 - Glacier Blue (on tap at O’Sheehans)

I can see sun on St. Kitts but it currently drizzling on the top deck of the Epic.

Day 7 I was hoping to have breakfast at Taste and then go up to the windy Deck 15 to watch sail-in but it looks like we arrived early at 7:30 AM. The Epic has stopped moving though it feels like the engines are still on.

Day 7, St. Kitts I have been walking down 7 flights every morning to Deck 5 to visit the Starbucks. This takes me past the Art Gallery. Today, there was a new sculpture by the elevators as I walked past. I’m clearly messing with the ability of the Starbucks crew members to remember my favorite drink. This morning I asked for a Grande Caramel Macchiato in a Venti cup with extra whip cream. I’ve been having trouble with the Venti lids while on this ship. I keep dribbling coffee all over myself. This way, I have more room the most important part aside from the coffee, the whipped cream. I noticed that Taste was open and I can see St. Kitts from the window next to my table. I don’t know why Cruise Critic keeps insisting on flipping the photo upside down but Taste clearly understands the importance of bacon in the morning and had a salmon bagel (!!!)

In checking my onboard account via the app yesterday, I noticed that each passenger in my cabin was refunded $1.84 and $19.28 as refundable onboard credit. I assume this was for St. Lucia. I did not have to ask for the refund. It showed up. I, of course, spent mine on a deep tissue massage at the spa. This was much better than my first massage but I did not tip twice. The Wi-Fi is zipping along this morning while everyone is still asleep.

Here is the Freestyle Daily for Day 7 as a PDF. Freestyle Daily 7.pdf

I wanted a Jackhammer but the Waves Pool Bar didn’t have all the items to make it. So, then I asked for a drink with two colors but somehow that ended up as two drinks (which I’ve had already): Mango Meltdown and Blue Hawaiian Tonight is the GLOW Party!

Lemon Drop Martini with Norwegian Cruise Line 66 Gin I like my Lemon Drop Martinis with Gin and NCL 66 is a very tasty gin. Thanks for the recommendation.

Day 6, Drink #4 - The Blue Hawaiian The Atrium Bar has a blender and can make the Blue Hawaiian.

I like the Quiet Sundeck on 18. It is above the Haven and next to Posh Beach Club. If Posh isn’t very busy, the waiters from there will come out the crew door on the side of Posh and take drink orders from people on the Quiet Sundeck. As the highest deck, it is very windy. Most of the cocktails I have gotten, I have either seen people walking around with in their hand or are listed in the bar menus.

So, I went today for another massage because Sea Day (and we all got a $50 credit to spend at the spa) and I asked about the $179 charge and I was told that the $149 did not include the service charge of $30. So basically, tip is included so don’t tip twice like I did unless you think your masseuse did a great job.

This sailing of the Epic is full. There are a lot of people. It is crowded. If you pick all the wrong places and times, then you will stand in line. The longest I’ve waited for a drink at the Waves Pool bar is 7 minutes. Most times, it is around two minutes. The pool deck is very full and busy on a sea day. The buffet is the same. There are lots of kids running around and you have to watch where you are going; the kids do not. I watched a lot of YouTube videos and found several places which are less crowded that require some additional walking. All of them have been quiet, more empty, and free but require a bit more effort. I’ve never stood in line for a show. I’ve never been standing room only for a show. I’ve gotten into all the specialty restaurants that I want. The only place that I’ve seen long lines in front of is Shanghai’s but the restaurant is very small.

Yes, on an extra Sea Day, we make balloon animals. I deserve kudos for successfully making a poodle while drunk.

My daughter (the child of no) wanted to attend the Family Balloon Twisting Workshop. I got a French Manhattan (#3, in a rocks glass as the bartender took pity on me) to fortify myself for the experience. It turns out, she just wants to watch the little kids fail to make balloon animals. Balloons are exploding left and right.

Day 6, Drink #2 - Mimosa I’m trying to pace myself. I’m sad (puppy dog sad) that I missed the fresh squeezed OJ this morning.

The Wi-Fi has really bogged down now that the majority of the ship is awake. Internet speed is the same but the ship’s network is clogged. My Speedtest app to an off-ship server shows 6 Mbps Down and 0.5 Mbps Up with a 3% packet loss. If you eat breakfast at the Garden Cafe, there is a sign at the top of the stairs to La Cucina stating that there is extra seating below for breakfast and lunch. If you go down the stairs, you are greeted by acres of empty tables. The Garden Cafe didn’t have any empty tables but there was a choice of seating down in the La Cucina area. Definitely a good choice if you are willing to walk down some stairs with a plate in your hand. I grabbed a seat by the window.

It turns out that I have two Freestyle dailies for Day 6. On the left is the original set of events for St. Lucia and on the right is the new set of events for the Sea Day. They aren’t very different but the teens lost their bowling event.

With the extra sea day, I am back at Guest Services to pick up more seasickness medication for my daughter. It is filled with people needing to contact ‘self booked’ excursions on St. Lucia.