dlynn0366

Love your video's and can't wait for you to post more :)

so how was the 17030 we are sailing in her next week and I am also concerned about the pool noise.

During the day when the band etc is playing yes it can be noisy but with the doors shut in the actual suite I can't say it was an issue. Also looking down at the crowd partying can be very entertaining. At around 5 when everything closed down it was peaceful to sit out. I think the main thing with the deck is the lack of privacy ......like you don't jump out of bed & run out to take a look at the ocean :) It really is a beautiful suite & you will love it. Watch the bathroom floor it can be slippery.

Yes she is $300 ahead, but she is missing out on the Free Ultimate Drink Package..

 

So if they spend more than $300 on drinks then they haven't made or saved anything.

I book ahead and never look back only look forward to the day I get on the ship:D

Also POSH is a relatively quiet place which closes down early so in the evening nothing to be heard. Another thing about the balcony on 17030 etc OS is that whenever you step out make sure you are fully covered as even at 5am you have people out on the main deck either watching the sunrise or reserving deck chair or crew is out placing chairs. While the balcony in 17030 was big I found I very seldom used it as I felt I was in a fish bowl surrounded by loud music. For the first few days it was fun, you feel like you are "queen" of the ship waving back to people on the main pool deck but that gets old soon :D

so how was the 17030 we are sailing in her next week and I am also concerned about the pool noise.

Iv'e stayed in both 17030 and 17004. As far as the difference in the suite the major difference I noticed was in 17030 the vanity area was located in the walk in closet where in 17004 it was in the bathroom. The balcony was not at all private as far as 17030, if out on it you could be sure people were looking up at you and if you wanted to sit out and quietly read a book during the day forget it as all the noise from the main deck can be heard. The only time I ever heard any noise from POSH was at midnight one night when they were moving furniture for a med evacuation.

I've been on the Epic three times staying in the Haven each time. My DH is a meat eater where I tend to lean more towards vegetarian. We eat several times during the week at Cagneys where I've never walked away hungry & at Moderno's there is such a huge salad bar again I'm stuffed. The other nights we eat at the buffet where I'm in my glory :p One can say what they want about the buffet but if you like veggies how can one mess up a salad & for that matter a decent selection of veggies. We have never eaten at either of the two main dining rooms so I can't comment. Entertainment I've seen the Blue Man show once..... Did I enjoy it yes would I go again no. Legends in Concert I've gone every time & overall was not disappointed. Cirque I attended once & enjoyed ..... Howl at the Moon I loved :)

All suites on the Epic have Haven access.

Not the Mini Suites

On NCL Air, is business class (as extra cost) inclued in your package booked? If so, I would call NCL directly and/or double check it & see what are your options, i.e. switching to another flight/carrier, etc.

Between Ottawa & NYC (LGA only) it's UA/AC as the carriers flying nonstop - on small "regional" and narrow- bodied (CRJ's) jets these days, in 2x2 seating with 4 extra $$ bulkhead seats up front (row 1A, 1C, 1D & 1F). Contact the airline & check-in early and take advantage of early/pre-boarding as pax with special needs (a note/certificate from your doctor is always helpful in dealing with check-in and gate-agents, as everyone tried to board first to get to the limited overhead bin space these days, etc.) And, it's a very short flight/time in the air.

Overhead & underseat storage space is small & tight, be prepared to gate-check bigger carry-on luggage.

Thanks, I fly a lot for work as I do medical research & just returned from a 2 day visit to Germany flying business class. Those overheads !! I was in a pod & each pod has its own overhead & I open mine & it turns out someone from economy had stuffed their stuff in mine on their way by. If I don't get the extra legroom to & from NY not the end of the world, I just had a recent ACL reconstruction & my knee stiffens up easily if I get it in one position.

I'm trying to print edoc's as I made my flight reservation thru NCL & want my reservation code so I can pick seats as I want extra leg room for a knee issue & on this flight there is no business class. I have been trying for past few days but I keep getting an error message.

Gem Freestyle- December 2014

http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/Dawn_Thier_Turitto/library/Gem%20Freestyle%20Daily

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this & posting :)

You didn't get the email? Humor is not allowed on here anymore. People here are wound so tight and take things so serious that any attempt at humor will not be tolerated and may result in severe penalties. :D

I was just thinking the exact same thing the other day.....someone just asks a simple question & the next thing the thread is full of people hurling insults at one another .....reminds me of an elective online religion course I had to take when I was completing my masters :D

I swear today something is in the universe affecting people :eek: I see on another thread a fellow ended a rand with "ESAD" .... I had to google this one especially since I just today paid my dues to the EASD ...European Associatiin for the Study of Diabetes.... I thought maybe this fellow is in the same medical field :rolleyes: but apparently not

I fractured my leg 2 weeks before my cruise last March & the first words I had for the ER doctor was "can I still go on my cruise in 2 weeks ??" I got the OK & except for not being able to go into the pool it was just as good a cruise as any before. Also I was flying 1st class but regardless if u let your airline know they meet u with a wheelchair if needed, u zoom thru security :)

Also in the specialty restaurants staff were excellent ie they would run & get a chair or stool for me to rest my leg. Also other passengers were extremely kind, although we stay in the Haven I love the buffet and like having breakfast & lunch there; as u know the buffet can be crazy at times but people were always offering me a seat.

Then I came home & had the surgery to the leg I needed to repair torn tendons etc.

There is a recent posting giving 2015 CD etc of most of the ships & the Gem is listed.

I'd love to see them too... if anyone can make them available!!

 

Thanks in advance!

I'd also love to see them. Seeing your fondness for the Gem has me even more excited about trying this ship :)

Yes there is such a tour, if I remember correctly the price was $55 a person and it lasted approx. 3 hours. We enjoyed it.

I'm hoping someone can answer a few questions about this posh deck...If we only get 2 passes but there are 3 couples in our group, can we share the passes to let another couple go up there sometimes? Hubby and I will be with kids a lot of the time but might want to share a pass with relatives and tag team with kids. Thoughts?

 

Also, are there other areas on the ship that are sort of peaceful and not so kid crowded?

No you cannot share the passes, your room key is coded & staff soon learn who belongs to which key card. Also the argument here is going to be why should 6 people enjoy Posh when only 2 paid for the privilege.

Yes thank you , that was awesome info !

 

 

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I've been on the Epic three times, I found this site very helpful previous to my first trip. The itinerary has changed but of course the ship is the same.

http://www.fromthedeckchair.com/2012/03/03/norwegian-epic-live-voyage-report-day-1/

First of all, Epic is the first of NCL megaships that uses two separate terminals (B and C) in Miami so make sure that your cab takes you to the terminal specified in your eDocs. The terminal selection is based on your deck, odd decks in one and even decks in another.

 

There is only one point of security right after the terminal doors so everyone goes through there first. After that there is someone directing people to the right check-in queues, that is where from you'll be heading to Haven check-in area.

Don't assume those "NCL" people directing send you to the right queue :p My first time on the Epic I knew since we were staying in the Haven there was suppose to be a "special check-in area" but missed it after going through security so I asked 3 different people, showed them my documents and by all 3people was directed to the general boarding lines, when I got to check-in the people there were like OMG why are you here :) These last 2 years I now know the drill :D

After 3 years of going out of Miami this year we are leaving out of New York....If I can't find the Haven check-in I will just head for a check-in line and be happy I'm going on a cruise !!

Coka, thank you so much for your entertaining & informative review !! If not for you I would have for example never known of the mermaid which I now have to see. I've only done the Epic for 3 cruises and initially questioned whether I wanted to do a smaller ship but now I'm really excited. I loved the Epic but at times you did feel the loss of the connection to the sea.

When I was in Ocho Rios this past November, I went to Margaritaville right in the cruise port area. Nice little beach area with a great view of the ship, nice restaurant and good internet service free of charge

This year seeing as 2 weeks prior to my cruise I fractured my leg and was in a leg immobilizer :( I also visited Margaritaville as it was close ....I hopped the whole way on crutches :) ....stuck to 1 margarita though :p we really enjoyed the place.

Thank you for your review, we are also from Ottawa and cruising the Gem Mar/15. We are flying into NY though the night before as driving is not an option seeing as one of us would not make it to the port. I've only seen commercials for the Amazing Race but do believe we would qualify based on the drama that takes place when a couple gets lost :) Several times we have flown out of Montreal so we could get a direct flight to Miami to catch the Epic & this year did direct Ottawa to Fort Lauderdale just to miss the drama of getting into the Montreal airport.

Hi All! So we have a cruise booked on the Breakaway 10/4/2015 (my birthday!!) & I am having weight loss surgery in a few weeks. I will be 10 months post op at the time of my cruise and will only be able to eat maybe an ounce of food and what I can eat would be very limited.

 

I know that my boyfriend would like to eat at some of the specialty restaurants aboard the ship and I would like to join him, but do you think they would charge me full price even though I would be barely eating anything?

 

I called NCL to inquire about this and the girl I spoke to gave me a firm NO! I didn't like her attitude much and she seemed like she couldn't care less about helping me out. Would this be something I would have to discuss with Guest Services when we board the ship?

I have a number of patient's plus friends who have had the Roux-en-Y gastric surgery and at month 10 are all eating because both they should be and can consume much more than an ounce of food. Sadly even at month 10 due to not following medical and dietitian's advice some are actually steadily regaining lost weight. At 9 weeks post op most people can eat most foods, sometimes its a trial & elimination game plus some get dumping syndrome etc. My suggestion is you meet with your dietitian pre-cruise as all the specialty restaurants have their menu's available and get her recommendations.

I am now looking to book a flight from Montreal to Miami but I noticed there are 2 airports in Miami. Do both offer a shuttle and how much can each cost? What if I arrive a day earlier, are there any cheap hotels nearby? How much can a taxi cost? What is better to arrive a day before or the day of?

 

Man after all this research I really do need a vacation...

I'm in Ottawa which unfortunately has no direct flights to Miami so for the first 2 years drove to Montreal so we could fly direct but last year was able to fly direct from Ottawa to Fort Lauderdale. I've always flown in day before & booked thru NCL both the transfers & hotel; although last year did private transfers as I fractured my leg 2 weeks before the cruise.

Sorry everyone..just found our that what they thought was gall stones is actually cancer of the gall bladder and liver...my brother is quite ill and we have a lot of plans to make for his care, etc...I will be back and will finish up as soon as I can

Life can change so quickly, take care of your brother. Down the road finishing this review might offer you a much needed break. We will all wait patiently in anticipation for your return & assume you did not throw the annoying coworker overboard ;)