Kattus

Came on just to say our Epic embarkation was the quickest and most efficient one we've experienced in all our cruises :)

Haven't sailed on the Getaway but have done the Breakaway twice and the Waterfront is fantastic. Other than the Cavern Club and the larger Spice H20 (which had fantastic bar service) we didn't care for the Epic. The beds are not only shorter but very uncomfortable, and neither of us got good sleep. The situation with Deck 5 is also pretty ridiculous in that you can only access it by taking a midship escalator next to the Casino. With so many events in the Atrium, this was very annoying.

Don't take an NCL tour, go with a small group from your roll call. I highly, HIGHLY recommend All Around Italy with Fabrizio. We toured with them for all 3 Italian port stops. In Naples, we drove along the Amalfi Coast, stopped for an amazing lunch and then on to Pompeii (since it's on the way back to Naples). It's not only the more personal experience of a small group, but some of the streets cannot be navigated by one of those big tour buses (forget about going down the Amalfi Coast in one!)

When we were there in May, we felt very safe and didn't have any of those "interactions" the professional pickpocketers employ to unsuspecting tourists. Well, unless you want to count the guys peddling the selfie sticks (that was all over Europe though) and the young "businessman" who was trying to sell us coke. Once we said "NO" to both, they backed off. We actually found it funny that the dealer initially offered weed, then went straight to coke...what a stretch!:D

Take it easy. Use the color tags and let the porters take your bags off the ship for you. There is no customs or immigration checks in Barcelona. You'll walk off the ship, collect your bags, and keep moving straight out of the terminal. Lots of taxis available (remember to have Euros) and a quick trip to the airport. If you get there 3 hours early, there's lots of duty free shopping once you clear security and imaginations at the airport.

There's one Terminal that has nothing but an overpriced cafe once you pass security and immigration. Granted, we SAW the duty free shops through the glass windows below our level, but there was no way to access them.

What recommended city tour you did which you recommend ? I am traveling with my daughter 12 years and son 7 years. Those not booked through cruise shipscand are competitive rates

For non NCL tours? We did 3 tours in Italy with others from our cruise with All Around Italy.

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Following. We did the May 27th sailing out of Barcelona and had fabulous weather every day! Looking forward to your review so I can relive this trip :D

Barcelona! Easy to reach to/from airport/hotel, beautiful waterfront and city, and most efficient and fastest embarkation and disembarkation.

We stayed at Hotel Europark before our cruise last month-it's in a very nice neighborhood and close to a lot of the Gaudi sites like Casa Batllo, Casa Mila and La Sagrada Familia. Was very reasonably priced, too, with breakfast included in the cost and a nice terrace that looked out over the street. Was a 12-15 euro cab ride to the port.

Not a fan of this ship, but it's the only one doing the 7 Day Med route, so we had to sail on her. Uncomfortable, short beds, ridiculous layout where the elevator does not stop on Deck 5, and smaller Atrium than the 'Away class ships with slightly more pax on board the Epic. They could also benefit from another bar on Deck 15. However, I will say that the thermal spa on this ship is amazing, and the MDR food was better than other NCL ships.

Our Epic cruise was the first in a while where we ate in the MDR for some meals, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good everything tasted. Service, too, paralleled that of the Specialty Dining. You have nothing to worry about!

Recent travelers on the Western Mediterranean cruise, can you advise what the earliest disembarkation time is. Hoping to make a 10 am flight.

 

 

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Disembarkation and travel from pier to airport was a breeze, but be forewarned, there are very few self-check in kiosks at BCN. We had to wait in a VERY long line for British Airways to get our boarding passes (they're one of the airlines that doesn't have a self-check in/boarding pass kiosk at BCN). From my memory, I think United, Emirates and one or two others had kiosks.

If you're able to print out your boarding passes on the ship (I think the Internet cafe) for a fee, I strongly urge you to do so; it'll save you a good 20+ minutes waiting in line. Unless you have checked luggage, then you'll be on that line anyway.

O'Sheehan's for their chicken wings and artichoke spinach dip, escargot at Le Bistro and Cagney's truffle fries.

Just got back from our cruise and spent 2 days prior to it in Barcelona. Felt very safe, and even the man who offered us marijuana and coke by Placa Catalunya didn't press on or try anything when we ignored him.

Looking forward to reviews and posted dailies!

Thanks for the encouraging words. :) We're not a fan of megaships (only sailed the Breakaway a second time because we grabbed a deal on a Haven room) but since the midsized ones aren't doing the 7 day from Barcelona, had no other choice but to book Epic for the end of May. We're in a spa mini, so hopefully that should offer some reprieve from the crowds!

Was following this thread too in the hopes of some good news. Now go and enjoy your vacation! :)

I just noticed that! ;p

You're welcome :)

I think you'll be ok, since it's 13 from the front. You can always wear Seabands if you're concerned about feeling a little dizzy-or take Dramamine.

I'm guessing this is on the Escape or one of the other megaships? In that case, you're going to be fine since they have stabilizers-even if you were a little further forward.

The room under the buffet sounds ok, but you might hear chairs being moved across the carpet (still better than under the pool). However, one thing to keep in mind is that you feel more motion the more forward AND the higher you are on a ship, so you might be more comfortable on a lower deck. Just something to keep in mind if this is your first cruise and you're really worried about motion sickness.

Following. We're using All Around Italy with folks on our roll call, and were advised to get open tickets for the Colosseum.

47 days!!!

Believe it or not, Breakaway will call to her home in New York for he final time on April 15th, next Sunday. While NCL and lines frequently move ships along markets and ports, this has been truly a special relationship between BA and NY.

 

Almost 5 years ago to the day, April 2013 she arrived home from her transatlantic voyage and began her weekly Bermuda sailings. Breakaway was the first of now 6 BA and BA Plus Class ships, and she was designed and purpose built for the New York market by then CEO, and New Yorker himself, Kevin Sheehan. Known as “Project Breakaway” this was a significant and very mission centric project design. The result was, Breakaway. Her connection and New York blood runs deeper than the hull art, but extends into the design, layout, and amenities of the ship. She is, truly a New Yorker at heart.

 

So she’s all grown up and it’s her time to leave the nest. She will leave a significant piece in the New York Harbor and Port history books. She will be missed by many.

 

This is intended to simply memorialize and share this piece of info with the group and serve as a POSITIVE venue to share great New York memories and send her off right. She will cross the Atlantic, dry dock for scheduled maintenance, then serve the Baltics, New Orleans, Miami, and Port Canaveral through 2020. Maybe, she one day will return home (as many of our grown teenagers do!!)

 

May the winds be at her back.

 

Me, well I may need a new screen name!

 

We will be sailing Escape in May, and are eager to welcome her to NY, she’s beautiful, but... she’s not a New Yorker [emoji6].

 

Safe travels all.

 

 

 

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Ok, why am I tearing up? Beautifully said!

Aston Waikiki Beach-it's on the quieter end of the strip and closer to Diamond Head and the aquarium. Very reasonable rate, especially for a hotel directly across the street from the beach. We loved our Oceanfront room when we stayed before our PoA cruise!

He was a different type of corporate suit. For one, he was accessible to pax and crew. He answered three of my emails. Now some might say that he had an assistant do it but although they were pretty short and to the point they were very personable and they certainly felt sincere to me.

 

The crew loved him. Did you happen to see him on undercover boss?

 

 

 

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Agreed. Kevin Sheehan came across as more approachable, unlike DelF*** o (what DH and I call him). It's one thing to make the shareholders happy and save money, but when it affects your paying customers like it did on the Sun-and now the bad press they've received will more than likely hurt the business.