PugsRuleATL

Actually, life *is* grand!

The ship hasn't even left port yet. You should still be able to easily touch base with your sister. Just ask how the cabin was, if there was a welcome aboard note, etc. Drop a few hints.

DCL really does want the experience to be magical. I've been on 5-6 DCL trips - each with amazing experiences and each with a couple of things I thought were not good at all.

Perhaps you announcing the surprise would be a welcome gift for the start of the cruise. Don't let this ruin her birthday - make the best of it.

I'm certain she loves you and appreciates your thoughtfulness, regardless of how DCL delivers it. :-)

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Somewhere in my EPIC transatlantic pic album is the ice bar. Really fun. Good drinks, Chico pours four or five when only two are included. He knows how to take pictures, too - which helped makes it fun.

1082 Pictures. Enjoy. http://d.pr/11VNX

We were worried about service, food, entertainment and the crew before we boarded. It was our first on NCL, #21 for me overall.

Our concerns were unfounded. Shows were an hour in length, booking tickets works well once you know what's happening. Pedro the CD was fun and great to chat with. The food and service was not the best we've had, but was very good.

All in all, I looking forward to another NCL trip.

I've scanned all of the Freestyle Dailies from the Epic TA, April 19-30, 2015. This was Miami to Barcelona, with a single Port of Call in Funchal, Madeira.

We wanted to share all of the FDs to serve as a point of reference. Feel free to share and download. Each link is to a single PDF.

In addition to the FDs, I've scanned many other documents and posted. Perhaps this can serve as a point of reference as well to show what was valid in April 2015.

Ask questions, happy to answer.

NCL EPIC

Transatlantic Cruise

April 19-30, 2015

Miami to Barcelona

Freestyle Dailies and various cruise documents.

Freestyle Daily, Day 1: http://d.pr/f/1g435

Freestyle Daily, Day 2: http://d.pr/f/1jrtM

Freestyle Daily, Day 3: http://d.pr/f/14RWZ

Freestyle Daily, Day 4: http://d.pr/f/1i0we

Freestyle Daily, Day 5: http://d.pr/f/LKhD

Freestyle Daily, Day 6: http://d.pr/f/Aark

Freestyle Daily, Day 7: http://d.pr/f/25OR

Freestyle Daily, Day 8: http://d.pr/f/16jgE

Freestyle Daily, Day 9: http://d.pr/f/pj3j

Freestyle Daily, Day 10: http://d.pr/f/1gGw9

Freestyle Daily, Day 11: http://d.pr/f/YqII

Welcome Aboard Letter: http://d.pr/f/Z6Hi

Helpful Embarkation Day Information: http://d.pr/f/1c3U3

Laundry Special Flyer, Day 1: http://d.pr/f/1cReg

Norwegian's Night Out Flyer, Day 2: http://d.pr/f/YIlq

Lost Luggage Flyer, Day 2: http://d.pr/f/1f5B2

Shore Excursions for Funchal & Barcelona: http://d.pr/f/1fow0

Entertainment Reservation Reminder: http://d.pr/f/1d16P

Freestyle Dining Flyer: http://d.pr/f/12eZ8

Cruise Rewards flyer: http://d.pr/f/1aBuT

Disembarkation information brochure: http://d.pr/f/1g0Rd

2015/16/17 Itinerary Guide: http://d.pr/f/1g0Rd

dictionary.com defines IOP as "an encroachment upon the right to be let alone or to be free from publicity" - seems to fit this situation perfectly.

I see it as an IOP, because the pax undoubtedly wouldn't have chosen to be recorded in such a situation.

Just my $.02...

Definition here: http://d.pr/1bKMm

What an invasion of privacy in a moment of crisis.

While I realize you're not the one that took the video, I find it incredibly insensitive of the person that did.

Hey Floridastorm, we'll be on that cruise on April 19. Find the roll call and come see what's up.

We're in a large balcony on deck 12. We think it's the balcony that's bigger - not really the cabin. We're new to NCL (from Princess) and are excited about the chance to try a new line. We cruise for the sea days, but have looked at many things onboard - seems like plenty to keep us busy.

We've recently booked the April 19 TA on the Epic in a balcony guarantee. By some stroke of wild luck we have been assigned to 12168 - which appears to be a rather plum cabin assignment.

I've searched quite thoroughly online and on CC and haven't found the answers, so would like to know:

1. Any experiences of the cabin to share?

2. Is the balcony really as large, compared to others, as it appears on the deck plans?

3. Any pictures of the cabin and/or balcony to share?

This is our first NCL experience, and our second TA (we were on the Emerald Princess TA westbound last October). We are fairly seasoned cruisers, and know we'll have a grand time regardless. Just want to know what to expect.

Thanks!

As of end of September, it was still coins on the Emerald ....and coins for the laundry detergent. We were able to get quarters at the passenger services desk.

Thank you for this really recent experience. As OCD packers, the quarters have gone in the suitcase.

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Having spent 10 minutes searching, I'm hopeful someone has very recent experience/knowledge to share.

On the Emerald Princess what is the payment method in the self-serve launderettes? Coins or cruise card?

Thanks - planning for our departure very soon!

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And they didn't market the FLL to HOU separately. As I said, they sold it as a 14-day and a 17-day. And that could happen with the cruise the OP is talking about - though perhaps it would be fewer total days. The Emerald is not going to Aruba when we disembark in FLL, it sails directly to Houston. I've attached both itineraries.

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I wonder if they'll market it as separate cruises later.

As an example, we're on the Emerald (in only 39 days!) from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale. The cruise continues to Houston. It was sold as two different cruises - a 14-day and a 17-day.

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I actually think Delta does it - but only seasonly. And I couldn't begin to tell you the season.

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I have no idea why someone thought the email came from Laos????

That would be because the Internet domain .la is for Laos, much like .uk is for the United Kingdom.

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And now on an iPhone you can block the texts and incoming calls - so you never see them.

In iOS 7:

Go to the phone app

Tap recents

Tap on the offending call

Scroll to the bottom if the screen

Tap on "block this caller"

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There's a shower in the gym, aft deck 16 I think. The spa is on deck 5 and has both steam and shower - on a recent 7 night cruise it was $199 for the week or $39 per day to gain access to that area.

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I'm not an expert, but I suppose the CDC might qualify as one. Here's what they have to say about washing your hands and using sanitizer - directed at cruise passengers:

http://d.pr/as9e

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We love those Plaza Deck cabins. Handy for all kinds of things and not much foot traffic which cuts down on noise. But they have one big drawback: they're deadly close to the International Café.

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In September I was on a full transit on the Disney Wonder which included a stop in Cartagena. It's at truly beautiful city - both the old city and the more modern portions.

I am lucky enough to have a friend who has in-laws that live in Cartagena (they own a restaurant there, where we had lunch). This connection allowed us to organize an amazing private tour of the city during our stop.

I say this to share my pictures, so you'll have an idea what Cartagena is like.. And the canal, I suppose.

Here's the link to 1400 cruise pics: http://d.pr/6puh. The canal is all of page 4. Cartagena is the first 2/3 of page 5. Please enjoy!

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Through the first parking deck, then on the sidewalk that is along the exit driveway. Make a right, go through the gate, then out to the street. We were at the Hyatt in 20 min or so.

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We've walked out to the Hyatt Place down the street a couple of times.

A cab has even asked us while we're walking. They don't want to sit in that line either, you know :-)

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Trousers in three different sizes on a TA cruise? Me thinks the buffet was the problem.

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You can order bon voyage gifts on the Princess site - including the coffee card. The coffee card, which the Princess site says includes hot chocolate, is at the bottom of this page:

http://d.pr/8gnx

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