faith4keep

Looking forward to the rest!

We were on the Escape last year during Halloween. There was a costume party but I'd say something like 10% of guests dressed up. The party was held at 10:30pm and although we were dressed in costume, we zonked out before then. It's also worth noting that we were turned away from a few restaurants due to our costumes (we weren't wearing anything scandalous at all) so keep that in mind. The crew also put on a haunted house in the supper club theater which was fun to walk through.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I'm hopeful that the Escape will also be metal-everything. Maybe I can find some magnetic hangers so I can drape/hang things inside the cabin.

We are setting sail on the Escape TA in a just a few weeks for our honeymoon! We are booked in a Haven Spa Suite!

The third day of the cruise (day at sea, again :rolleyes:) will be Halloween. Halloween is my husband's favorite holiday and at home he goes ALL OUT. We have boxes and boxes of every Halloween decoration you can imagine - last year we acquired one of those inflatables that goes in your front yard.

Anyway, I think he's a little bummed to be missing the holiday at home and I would like to surprise him and decorate our cabin. But I'd like to go far beyond a door sign.

I've read reports beginning in August that NCL isn't allowing door signs anymore; is this the case? I'd also like to decorate the interior. I searched the forums but couldn't come up with a list of what is allowed and not allowed, or how to mount things on the wall. For example, are plug-in or battery powered lights allowed?

Finally, the CC meetup cabin crawl will take place on Oct 31 as well! Who has good ideas to make our cabin extra spooky? :)

We've actually done exactly what you're saying. We ordered some drink of the menu that we haven't tried. 2 sips in, we hated it. Asked for something else. Bartender made us something new (but he also poured out our first drink).

He didn't seem annoyed but then again, we had been using him as our bartender exclusively the whole cruise!

No issues for me. I did notice, on one recent sailing, that using a flat iron in an inside cabin causes that cabin to REALLY heat up !!

Please see the responses above....

Thanks for the reply! I'm on the transatlantic. The T&C of the current promotion specifically does not allow UBP on the TA. I guess I was making the assumption that jmele999 was on the transatlantic as well.

Thanks also for the clarifications on the UDP. Looking forward to some info soon on which restaurants will be a la carte.

I'm new to this thread and I'm still trying to read through all the posts, so forgive me in advance!! I'm sailing on this TA cruise with my then-husband for our honeymoon!

Very excited about all of the annoucements. We are already booked with the UBP and UDP which is going to be a great help considering all of the bars and dinning options.

We tried to get UBP but we were under the impression it wasn't being offered for the TA. We didn't see it as a pay-beforehand option like we've seen on our past few cruises and it wasn't an option on the ALLIN promotion. What am I missing? Did UBP somehow sell out? We really, *really* want the UBP for our honeymoon! :D

There are several that won't be included. All the a la carte will be 20% off like the tapas bar and Food Republic. Expect Bayamo to be like Ocean Blue just a different Iron Chef.

Wait...how does that work? Isn't that the whole point of the UDP? I haven't sailed on Breakaway or Getaway, but I don't remember Epic being like this. So what do you think will be included vs. not?

My fiance is going to be Not Happy if we switched from our 10% OBC promotion, which I thought was fantastic, to the ALLIN promotion *without* UBP in order to get the UDP...only to have it not include everything.

Are you planning on doing an organized tour or trying to DIY?

There is a great DIY that I am following somewhat for my trip next week, located here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1518706

Yes- you all are right that the entire reason to go to P. Michaelangelo was to see the incredible views of Florence. I'm sure we'll get to see great views from the Duomo as well, but I'm hoping for a picture with my fiance with the skyline behind us. The only reason we wouldn't go is if it's a cloudy/rainy day.

Last question about my Florence trip - I'm assuming there is a dress code for the visit to the Duomo, and that shorts & a short sleeve shirt will not be acceptable. Can anyone point me to the appropriate dress code for both men and women?

I guess this also goes for Rome (the Vatican) and Barcelona (Sagrada Familia) as well. Are men expected to wear pants? What about shorts past the knee? For me, would leggings past the knee be acceptable? I have read that the Vatican expects you to cover up on top past the elbows - so I should bring a cardigan that day I suppose!

We had plenty of time to visit both Florence and Pisa, though we just browsed Florence and I suspect the others are right.

 

But dont totally give up on Pisa at this stage.

You,ll need 20 minutes to walk from Pisa centrale to the Field of Miracles, mebbe 15 mins for photo ops and allow 25 for the walk back. That,s a total of about an hour - halve that if you take a taxi. This only for a photo op and to tick it off your list.

Your Florence train ticket permits you to break your journey, and trains from Pisa to Livorno are twice as frequent as the through trains from Florence. You should have no need of a taxi from Pisa to Livorno though it's a useful Plan B if you totally foul-up.

 

Detailed plans usually don,t work out totally and need adjusting on the day. Usually by trimming rather than adding, but if your day goes smoothly then keep Pisa in your back pocket.

 

JB :)

Definitely not planning on this timeline working out at all. I hope to report back on the timing of how we actually did things. I have never DIYed with train rides, so both Florence & Rome are making me a bit uneasy.

You have great detailed plans. I would not change the Duomo time but I would skip Pisa. That will simplify things and give you more time in Florence. The area around the Duomos is interesting as is the Duomo itself.

Thanks for the comments! None of us are particularly thrilled or interested in Pisa so we were probably going to skip it. It will be a little less stressful trying to get back to the ship anyway.

Seeing Florence in 3 hours is just not possible.

 

The idea of rushing through Florence without enjoying lunch at a well-located outdoor café is almost enough to make me cry :(.

Of course! This is why we are focusing on only seeing 3 things and take it leisurely instead of rushing and attempting to see everything. I'm really looking forward to the food & drink in Florence, particularly wine bars if we can find them. Also shopping for leather, too.

We leave for our Med Cruise this Friday and I'm finalizing our plans for Livorno. I based my day off of we12brich's amazingly detailed DIY (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1668640) but edited, because some things our groups wants to do are not listed on we12brich's version.

We've heard to focus our day trips on a few things. So, our must-sees in Florence are: Piazzale Michaelangelo, Ponte Vechchio, and climbing the Duomo. Anything else we happen to see along the way is nice but not necessary. The main issue right now is the Duomo. I had planned my entire DIY around doing Piazzale Michaelangelo first and Duomo last, but my travel-mates are concerned about the line for the Duomo being too long in the afternoon. I am not sure how to reverse my itinerary in this scenario due to bus routes; is it really necessary? Will lines be longer for the Duomo as the day goes on? If so, any suggestions on how to reverse my below itinerary?

LIVORNO PORT – TRAVEL TO FLORENCE AND PISA ITINERARY

October 2nd, 2014

Ship arrives at 7a, leaves at 7p.

9:45-12:45p - Explore Firenze

+ Walk from Piazza della Stazione to Via deglu Avelli.

+ Walk towards Santa Maria Novella Church. Buy a bus ticket from the tobacco shop in the plaza before walking to bus stop.

+ Find street Via del Fossi for the bus stop. Take the #12 (or #13) bus from Santa Maria Novella to Piazzale Michaelangelo (9:58am, 10:15am buses)

+ Arrive at Piazzale Michaelangelo. Take photos. (10:15am - 10:45am)

+ Walk from Piazzale Michaelangelo (downhill) toward town. Take Via Galileo turns into Via San Miniato, turn left on Via di San Nicolo (visit Enoteca Bevo Vino!). Turn right on Ponte alle Grazzie; turn left to walk alongside water.

+ Check out view of Ponte Vecchio. Walk to bridge and walk across (jewelry, artwork, tacky souveniers).

+ At the end of the bridge take a right, walk through the Uffizi Palace. gallery (public courtyard)

+ End up in the Piazza della Signoria.Take Pictures.

+ Take Via dei Calzaiuoli. Turn to Via Porta Rossa towards Via Calimala.

+ You’ve reached Mercato del Porcellino (rub the boar’s snout for good luck).

+ Take Via Roma/Calimala towards Via degli Speziali. You’ve reached Piazza della Repubblica. Take Pictures.

+ Continue taking Via Roma/Calimala.

+ At the end of Via Roma is The Duomo (1pm-3pm) (10 euro)

If it's 1:30pm or earlier at this point - let's go to Pisa

+ OR - if it's too late - Plan B. Take a Taxi from Pisa Centrale to Livorno port (EUR ___)

If it's 1:30pm or later, determine other things to do in Florence up until ~2:30PM, where we need to get on a train back to ship.

4:50 – Arrival at Livorno Centrale Station. Take a taxi to the port. If difficult to get a taxi, alternative option is to catch a bus:

+ Catch Bus #1 at Livorno Central Station to Piazza Grande Square. Buy the bus ticket (EUR1) at a little tobacco shop (Tabacchi) or at a news-stand kiosks. Once you get into the bus, validate ticket in the machine.

+ Ride to Piazza Grande Square takes 10 minutes depending on the traffic. Buses arrive every 10 minutes.

+ Take the cruise shuttle bus (make sure the NCL EPIC Name is on the front) back to the port.

5:15 - 5:30 - Arrival at Livorno port

The views along the Amalfi Coast are beautiful but you don't sound like someone who would be happy spending eight hours sitting in a car looking out the window, broken up by a couple of shopping stops (because there's really not much else to do in the towns along the coast other than shop or eat).

You are exactly right. 8 hours in a car with a few stops for photos doesn't really appeal to me. Also; I am young and able, there may be a day when I'm not as able, and if that day comes I'll do the 8 hour in a car thing :)

In addition to the beautiful views from Capri and an Amalfi Coast drive, you also might consider a cruise down the Amalfi Coast on a private boat. In May, six of us rented a speedboat (actually a small cabin cruiser) and Captain for the day from Amalfi and traveled the 50 miles up the coast to Capri and back, with a few hours on Capri taking that gorgeous bus ride to Anacapri followed by the chair lift up to Mount Solaro and back.

 

The vistas and grottoes to explore from the boat were marvelous.

This sounds wonderful - can I actually do this all in one day?

Maybe start with a tour of the Amalfi Coast, then go to Capri, and spend a few hours there? I found a tour company: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187780-d1488041-Reviews-Amalfi_Coast_to_Capri_Boat_Excursion-Amalfi_Amalfi_Coast_Campania.html but if there a way to DIY this?

Hello everyone! I've done lots of research on Naples and just can't decide what to do. Here's what you need to know:

• We're a group of 4 and all in our late 20s or early 30s.
  
• We may break off, so it might just be my boyfriend and I on our own.
  
• This will be our first time to Naples.
  
• None of us are really interested in ruins: Pompeii seems out but I could be convinced.
  
• I am not interested in shopping/browsing, particularly at touristy places.
  
• We all love fantastic, picturesque views.
  
• We all love great food & drink.
  
• We all are into adventurous and/or fitness related things
  
• I prefer to have set things to see/do rather than get to a place and "explore"
  

My grandparents (who have traveled the world) said the Amalfi Coast is the most beautiful thing they have seen in the world. So, that is a priority for me.

My first idea was to take a private tour to Amalfi, Sorrento, and Positano. But it seems like those are all mostly shopping stops and nothing really to see.

So the new idea is to take a hydrofoil to Capri. Get the great views of the Amalfi coast from the water. I am not sure what all to do in Capri, but the chair lift sounds fun. Or, there are some boat tours available: http://www.giannisboat.com/

Does anyone have any other ideas?

I like to see the beach but not be *on* the beach. Are there any resorts available that charge a small feel to use their pool facilities that back up to the beaches? Or maybe a hotel that has an excellent view of the coast?

I'm very pale-skinned, so if there are no hotel options, I'll be looking for beaches that offer umbrellas & loungers for a small fee. Sounds like there is at least one or two!

Yes, I did this cruise last September, and it was fantastic!! I loved both the Jade and the Pearl - the NCL Jewel-Class ships are the perfect size. I think the food is just fine on NCL. But I can't comment on cabin size, I had a family balcony, so it was larger than most balcony cabins. BTW - Balcony cabin is definitely worth it for this itinerary!!

You are going to love this cruise -- I want to do it again!

Thanks for sharing your experience! Your first review on Epic is what convinced me to book my solo cruise. I can't wait!!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD