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sdmike's review & daily diary of Epic's inaugural western Caribbean cruise

sdmike

By sdmike,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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mitsugirly Great Review Rare

mitsugirly

Posted
Posted
They had about a billion slot machines of every game known to man, and the basic card tables as well. 3-card poker was the only game I wasn't familiar with. They also had roulette and craps, plus slot tournaments and poker tournaments as well. There will be a coupon when you receive your paperwork that entitles you to $20 worth of play for $10.

Not EVERY slot machine (my favorite-Hot Shots) Boo Hiss! :( (Where's the tear smiley when you need it?) 337.gif Oh, there it is.

 

Have you heard if this is a one time shot? Or can you use a different coupon every time you go?

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Zlasmcruising

Zlasmcruising

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Not EVERY slot machine (my favorite-Hot Shots) Boo Hiss! :( (Where's the tear smiley when you need it?) 337.gif Oh, there it is.

 

Have you heard if this is a one time shot? Or can you use a different coupon every time you go?

 

 

I think it is a one time only for joining their casino club. The casino is big!! Nice part is one side is non-smoking, which was nice!! Many new machines I had never seen before, too.:)

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InTheCruisingYearsOfLife

InTheCruisingYearsOfLife

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Last Day at Sea (Friday, July 30)

... This was the afternoon that my son’s cruise card was stolen from the “book” at the Entourage Teen Club, and the little felon that stole it ran up over $150 in video game charges on my card. ...

 

To read the many other so-called adult posters who sell their own consciences soooooo cheaply, and score (or seek to score) a personal felonious victory of ripping the cruise lines off of maybe one percent of their due by smuggling in alcohol, you don't have to wonder very much where the moral models of such video game felons come from.

 

Love your review. Thank you so much for it all. We look forward to sailing Epic in January, 2012.

 

InThe

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orangegrove

orangegrove

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Posted (edited)
for all of the information you have shared with us! I'll be sure to look for your posts on any cruises we may book!

 

My question:

1. Does the Epic have a special commemorative cup for the soda card or just a generic cup?

2. Did you see an ornament that looks like the ship? You know, the typical NCL oval ornament for around $10. I would hate to think that our "collection" will be incomplete.

 

Have a great day!

Marianne

 

There is no special cup. Here is photo and no ornament! :mad: I collect them also!

 

 

ry%3D400

Edited by orangegrove
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sdmike

sdmike

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I will be taking the Western route in a week and I'm having difficulty knowing what I can charge in the three ports and what I need to pay cash for. I have no idea how much cash to take off the ship in each port?

 

It really depends on where you shop. I would take cash to Roatan. The shops near the port as well as the roadside ones are very local and rural. If you go to one of the resorts for time at the beach they will accept credit cards. Expect to pay about $6 - $7 for t-shirts, and a few dollars for trinkets. Mahogany bowls, which are abundant and popular, will run from $10 to $50 depending on the size.

 

While I did not make it to Costa Maya, my guess is that the shops at the port will almost all accept credit cards. That shopping area was carved out of the jungle for the express purpose of attracting cruise customers, so they'll take plastic.

 

Most of the shops around the port in Cozumel will also take credit cards. If you get away from the main drag you will want to have cash with you. They all take US dollars, so no need for conversions. It's always a good idea to carry a mix of bills including plenty of small denominations. Some places will not have change in dollars (or claim not to), so exact change is good.

 

I took a couple hundred dollars in cash, plus my credit card, to each port. It was more than enough. Plus, every place I used my credit card they charged me in US dollars and not Pesos. If they're going to charge Pesos, the exchange rate is about 13 to the dollar.

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coastalcarolinakid

coastalcarolinakid

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All the places we went to in Roatan claimed that the credit card machines were down. Seemed like standard procedure that they claim to take credit, but the machines are broken so they only take cash. We had limited cash on Roatan, and could not charge our lunch at Infinity Bay. No Credit Cards for the water activities either.

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sdmike

sdmike

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All the places we went to in Roatan claimed that the credit card machines were down. Seemed like standard procedure that they claim to take credit, but the machines are broken so they only take cash. We had limited cash on Roatan, and could not charge our lunch at Infinity Bay. No Credit Cards for the water activities either.

 

At Infinity Bay they told us the same thing, so we told them that we would not be able to buy lunch and drinks for 11 people then. Amazingly the credit card machine started working. :rolleyes:

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missygirl1

missygirl1

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Hey Mike

I read in your review that your brother did the Snuba in Cozumel. How did he like that?? I am trying to figure out my plan and DH wants to try Snuba. Also, even though you did not go to Mr Sanchos in Cozumel did you hear any feedback on it?? Thanks so much!!

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sdmike

sdmike

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Hey Mike

I read in your review that your brother did the Snuba in Cozumel. How did he like that?? I am trying to figure out my plan and DH wants to try Snuba. Also, even though you did not go to Mr Sanchos in Cozumel did you hear any feedback on it?? Thanks so much!!

 

Hopefully my brother will chime in on this issue. His ID is "k9sar". I didn't hear anything about Mr. Sanchos. Sorry. :(

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sdmike

sdmike

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I tried that approach, but only had 4 people. BTW, I would love to share my Maya Chan day with you. Was definitely one of our favorite places. Very unique. Part of it will be in my review later.

 

I'm looking forward to that info! I'm sorry I missed out on visiting there. Mark and his team seemed great, and the reviews were wonderful. At least I spend the refunded money on a nice watch to ease my pain. LOL

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sdmike

sdmike

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Mike where did the zip and dip tour take you in Roatan. Which canopy?

Thanks

 

The zip is on Victor's property. It's not one of the big canopy tours, but a smaller 12 station one that runs back and forth across his property. It was perfect for our group ranging from 9 to 71.

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sdmike

sdmike

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Where is the souvenir shop(I know that I will need more caffeine free diet coke...not found on the ship!) found on page 9 and what's with the twisted Corona bottles?

 

Love that tee shirt....

Marianne

 

That shop was to the left of the port along the primary road. It's immediately next to the McDonalds. Just exit the mall at the port and head to the left. They had good prices on hats, shirts and the like and took credit cards in US dollars. Don't buy booze there though. Too expensive. Also don't buy vanilla there. If you are looking for vanilla get it at the nice shop on the upper floor of the mall (Del Cinco Sols). Their house brand is made by Orlando and is wonderful.

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14ersco

14ersco

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Last week the exchange rate for the official taxis in Cozumel was 10 pesos per dollar. The taxi rates were posted in pesos. Ours was 170 pesos, so $17.

 

We only used cash for our ports; which was good since either the credit card machines were "broken" our not even available.

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cavmom

cavmom

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Mike...which port is it in??:confused: I hope it's in our first week'

Thanks, again!

marianne

 

If we are doing a two week cruise, not booked as b2b but as 1 cruise, do we still have to do customs in Miami on our port day if we don't want to get off the ship?

 

We will have to cruise together some day...I owe you a drink!

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sdmike

sdmike

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Mike...which port is it in??:confused: I hope it's in our first week'

Thanks, again!

marianne

 

If we are doing a two week cruise, not booked as b2b but as 1 cruise, do we still have to do customs in Miami on our port day if we don't want to get off the ship?

 

We will have to cruise together some day...I owe you a drink!

 

marianne - That shop was in Cozumel, the last stop in the western itinerary.

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