mfantasia

We came back in July, we did the same, took a taxi to Palma Nova and back to the ship. No problem at all in Palma Nova, there is a taxi stand in there and the taxis were waiting. Around 20 euros one way. The taxi driver that took us to the beach, told us where the stand is (no way to miss it! the taxi just drop you in the same place) and that we needed to specify that we wanted to go to the cruise port in our way back.

The beach is nice, they have a public section with shower, we went there. I think that all the beach is public, but there is also private areas with lounges and beach umbrellas. We didn't take because it was late in the afternoon and we didn't have too much beach time, we planned to spend the whole time in the water and that is what we did, no time for tanning.

I would have a long, leisurely breakfast and get a cab for around 10-11 a.m. Hotels don't welcome people checking in much before noon.

 

Do you really need to pre-book a private transfer as there are always cabs at Barcelona port terminal?

This is exactly what we did. We were in the Epic on July, disembarkation day was July 12. There is plenty of taxis outside, a huge line of taxis, very organized, they have a person taking charge and assigning the taxis, it was fast, even when you see so many people queuing for taxis. Don't rush, no need for it. The comment about the Hotels is true, they rarely will check you in before 2:00PM. We left our baggage in the Hotel and went touring around.

Going next June. How was the weather when you went? Hot, cold?

I did the same itinerary in Jul 5. It is Hot and Humid. Barcelona, Rome, Naples and Florence were 100°F, they claimed having a heat wave. No rain, beautiful blue skies. Cannes and Palma were hot as well, but because we went to the beach, we didn't suffer as much as in the other cities. In Naples, we went to Capri and was very nice while touring around the island in a boat, but as soon we went to Capri Town, we felt the heat, very hot. I assume that June will be better, but plan for Hot days.

I think that NCL is very similar to Royal and Carnival. We went only to the buffet and it was superior to any other cruise buffet. We didn't go to any restaurant, because in Europe, we prefer to go to restaurants in the ports and we loved the freestyle of NCL.

IMO, Royal, Carnival and NCL charges for extra/options are not so different. It is worth it, we really enjoyed the trip.

I'm doing the cruise in August and really looking forward to it .

I have still to book Florence and unsure what tour to book as there are two quite similar.

We booked Florence on your own. Only Florence. We booked the Accademia online to 1:00 PM, but were there earlier and didn´t have any problem to collect the tickets, we reserved them by phone and collected and paid them in Florence, just with the reservation number. We prefered that option to buy it, as if we have to cancel the trip, we don´t loose the money. As I said before, there was a line even for online tickets, around 30 minutes. We walked the main places at our own pace, Florence is easy to do, just you won't be able to do all the sites, we picked the accademia over Uffizi, other people will do the oposite.

Rome and Florence were the most intensive days. Buy tickets in advance (online) if you can. We went to the Vatican museum and bought the tickets online, it was fast. A tip that I got form this site was to leave the Sistine Chapel thru the exit doors for the tour groups, you stay inside the Vatican and can go to the Basilica without passing the security line again. Just mix with any tour and you'll be OK, no one is asking. If you want to go to the Coliseum, buy them online or in the Palatine Hills (the bus dropped us right in front of the entrance), no one is in line, the tickets are valid for the Coliseum and roman forum. We walked to the Vatican, visited few places in the way. We took a taxi back, from Navona Piazza to Palatine Hill, around 7 euros.

Florence, we went to the Accademia, even with online tickets, we have to wait around 30 minutes in line. it is Hot! We went around the old town, plenty of time.

In Naples, we went to Capri, took a boat around the island. Gianni's boat, it was great and relaxing. We bought the hydrofoil tickets in the port (fast jets), it is right there, no way to miss it. The don't sale the return tickets in Naples office. I followed the advice from this site and bought the returns as soon we arrived to the island. You have to be sure to buy tickets for Molo Beverello port. It is very easy to do. The schedules are online (capri.net). After the boat, we took the funicular to Capri town (it was empty) you need to take it before or after the ferries get to the island, everybody seems to run to the cable car. Tickets are sold in the same station that the hydrofoil tickets. BTW, be sure you check which company you are buying the tickets, there is two jets companies, buy whoever is right to you in terms of the time.

Cannes and Palma we went to the beach. Both public. Cannes is right after you pass the Festival building (not a great beach, but better than the Pacific) and in Palma we went to Palma Nova Beach, a good beach, around 20 euros one way from port to the beach. The taxis are right outside the port and the beach.

As you already said in my very short review, we were in the same cruise. I'm going to read your experiences and compare! It was great.

Hi,

 

Thank you for your review.

 

Is it ok if you can post the full dailies?

 

Thanks!

 

 

:)

Sorry, I did not take pics of them.

I highly recommend the show Howl at the moon, it is super, we went two times and had a blast.

Quick review about Epic, I’m terrible jet lagged and at work, so this will be quick (pardon my English, is not my first language and the jet lag is not helping me to be coherent) we arrived yesterday night from Paris (after cruise week)

We went to Barcelona round trip from 7/5/15 to 7/12/15. We really have not negative comments about the ship, the personnel, the excursions, the services, and the cleanness of the ship. In fact, this is the first time that I really, really liked the buffet, it was great and the food was good. We didn't go to any of the restaurants; we went freestyle in this cruise and really enjoyed it.

They were really enforcing the hand sanitized policy and the service at the port was very good and consistent, always having people with water waiting for you, a very nice detail considering the high temperatures that we encountered all over Europe.

We have a very nice experience, NCL did not disappoint us and we were greatly surprised by the experience. I didn't like the cabin distribution, but the curtain dividing “bathroom” and the sleeping areas took care of all the privacy issues. We have an interior cabin and if I have an issue was how dark it was. More lighting fixtures will help a lot!

We took ship excursions for Rome and Florence, both were On your own and they were great and on time. I like the escort for Florence better than the one for Rome, but both were good and informative

My daughter (9 yo) enjoyed the pool and the water park rides. She went to the kids club only twice, she liked, but she was busy in the ports with us and tired at night, so this time she didn’t used the club as she had in other cruise lines, but she said it was great.

Embarkation and disembarkation were fast and efficient. In fact, the disembarkation was one of the fastest and easiest ones that I have done. Other ships need to take note and do what NCL does.

In summary, it was a very good trip and not complaints. We usually take the ships by the itinerary and not necessary because the line, so I’m not a champion for any cruise line, NCL was good, efficient, took care of us and delivered a good service. We will cruise with them again without hesitations. I really recommend it to anyone.

I just want to point out that you don't need to subscribe to CDP to see the general information about the cabins, decks and pics. I use it all the time and you can get free information. I just went now and was able to see the complaints about this cabin. Just click over the star and you will see it

here is the link, not sure how to post it: http://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Norwegian-Epic

We were able to update from Balcony category 8D to Spa Balcony category 8P. The balance was deducted from our payment, as we have not paid in full yet. We did not book on the early savings. Happy, so happy! Thank you for the post.

I just called thinking that I had a price drop. I haven't. My PVP explained that the prices in the fare viewer don't include taxes and gratuities, at the end, I have better price than anything available in my category. But she advised me to keep checking.

Thank you Mitsugirly, we will figure it out. Will try to get lounge chairs close to the palms or ask for an umbrella. Last resort, will sit in a table, no a big deal. Hopefully we will have the place for ourselves like you had it.

My guess is they would love Playa Mia the most. We have been to both with our little one(s) and they had a blast.

 

I have complete reviews of both places listed in my signature line with TONS of pictures at each. They both have the water toys in the ocean, but Playa Mia has the water area and the water slides. :) Let me know if you have any questions.

Mitsugirly, First, let me tell you that I have read all your Cozumel'a reviews. Thank you very much for all the information, it is really very valuable.

We were thinking to go to Playa Mia, the water-park is a big selling point for my daughter (8 yrs old). I just noticed in your pics that the lounge chairs don't really have umbrellas, the only shade is provided by the palms, and there are not too many of them. The umbrellas seem to be only on the tables. I ask because my husband needs shade (fair skin way too sensible to the sun) Can we have umbrellas on the lounge chairs? Did you see anyone having them there?

Well, it is not my intention to offend people, as I said, I'm a Cuban-american, and this is my country. I know that this is the most generous country in his immigration laws. There are bad and good stories of course, and not all of them have a happy end, but not better place to live the the USA, IMO.

I made my comment specifically for the people that were saying just get them back...everybody has the right to agree or not with the laws, it is the law and we have to respect it, but some sensibility is very much appreciated.

Now, about the dry/wet policy, it is still in place, nothing has changed. If a Cuban does not arrive to the shore, and by shore I mean dry land, it will get deported. The policy was created in 1994 to avoid a massive flow of immigrants from Cuba.

Some comments here are unnecessarily cruel. I'm a Cuban-american. You might support or not the immigration laws of our country, but being happy with other person's pain seems extreme to me.

I was in a cruise in Europe when our ship rescued a boat at night. They were immigrants from Africa. They were kept in the Cruise and delivered to the authorities on the next port. It reminded me of us, Cubans. How desperate you have to be to risk your live on the ocean. It is not an easy decision.

I been eyeing this Beach but kinda looks like several rows chairs like RIGHT up on the edge of the beach where the water breaks. Doesn't seem like much Beach area. Also I don't see any umbrellas in any pictures. I burn soooo easy and would need some covering while I lounge. Do they have anything like that there?

I have the same question, if I pick the Pay as you go option, how much for the chairs and umbrella? I see palapas for the AI, do they have umbrellas or palapas for PAYG? My DH needs some shade or he will burn very bad...

As duct tape correctly noted, these types of places do not really attract many children. That one super cute girl was with her parents from Belgium. She was super well behaved and nice. The big "secret" was that three of her grandparents were traveling along as a part of the extended, total family. That type of larger grouping gave it a different dynamic and I am sure made things work much better than your circumstance might be. Much depends on your family travel style and your daughter's interests. This Norway Coast cruise is more focused on nature/landscapes/outdoors. Without other kids on the cruise and no children programs offered by the ship, it might not be the best "fit". Much depends on you and her, what works, what flows, etc.

 

 

Thank you Terry. I suppose that I can take my daughter' s two granmothers and one great-grandmother with us, but then, it won't be a vacation for me...Sorry, couldn't resist.

Love your picture of the four of you spelling OHIO. I lived in Centerville for 4 years and have a lot of friends on the Miami Valley area, great place.

Thanks again.

Terry, thank you very much for this report. We are tempted to take a Baltic cruise, so we are looking for the offers. Your report has giving the incentive that I needed, those pictures were awesome. I'm also tempted with the Silver Cloud, as we would like a more customized cruise, the only problem is that we have a 5 years old daughter that always travel with us and even if she is used to cruise, in the last one (Disney) she preferred to stay on board while we were to ports, which it worked fine for us, I don't think that we can compete with Mickey (we have to bribe her with the monkeys in Gibraltar in order to get her to the Rock). Anyway, I saw only one little girl in your pictures and I'm conscious that this is a cruise that is not marketed for families with little ones, so I might take another cruise line, but wanted to tell you that I was amazed with your pictures and trip recount.

Hi Ruth,

I just came back from the cruise and I want to tell you how impress I'm with Israel. The people was very friendly and I feel very safe all the time. I wish I can go back and spend more time. Thanks for your help.

Thanks Ruth.

Have a nice long trip and enjoy. I see that you are coming to LA, it is so hot these days, uncommonly hot and humid. Hope that gets better when you arrive and that the fires are gone too, it has been a very bad fire season, the fires are not problem for tourists, but the air quality is bad and the visibility some times is low...We really, really need some rain.

Hi Ruth,

Thank you very much for your thread. I have not questions, just want to pop up to say Thanks, I've been reading your posts to get some information about Israel, we are going soon (I can't wait!) in October

Well, I take that bad, I have one question. Two weeks ago I knew a woman from Israel (in Jury Duty, could you believe that?) and she gave so many ideas than I wish that I can go for months to Israel, but I only have two days, she suffered my interrogation with a lot of patience every day (3 days!), she remained me you, because all the time she was telling me to drink a lot of water, wear a hat and use a lot of sunscreen, even if the early October weather is very nice ( we live in Southern California, she said that will be like here, maybe a little more humid).

She couldn't help me with Bethlehem, as you, she haven't visit it for a long time. She said that should be safe and "crossing” to the city should be easy, do you know anything about going there? Do we have to pass some border checking? Is it safe? We'll go with the cruise excursion, so I'm sure that they will handle that, but my DD is going with us and she is 4 yr old and I worry.

I have re-read your posts and didn't find that information, so I apologize in advance if you already had answered the question (should I say three questions?).

Thanks