Another Epic trip as the Solo Fashionista goes Stateside!

[lara_lox]

 

One teeny tiny inconsequential thing....your pumps look like they're too big. How do you keep them on your feet without them flopping at the heels?

 

Haha, I've no idea why they look like that, because in reality they all fit fine and don't move off my feet?! And I dance enough that if they were going to fall off they would!

[lara_lox]

Great review and pics. What's up with the person in your pics that is being blocked out each time?

 

Like I said, I always ask people I meet if they would mind me using photos with them in for my review. Sometimes people would prefer me not to for whatever reason, and that was the case with this lady. But some of the photos were great or the only one I had for a certain activity so I just blanked her face out...Nothing more sinister than that lol!

[SMSACE6]

I loved reading your review, and seeing your wonderful photos! You sure do know how to have a great time! Thanks for taking the time to post your review.:)

[Coastalbreezes]

Thank you for another great review...so entertaining!

 

What's next on your cruise agenda? I think we all want to come along:)!

 

Tracy

[lara_lox]

Day 11 – Miami, Home time :(

 

I set my alarm to make sure I didn’t just sleep all day and forget to leave the Epic, because of course, that would just be awful! :rolleyes: I went for a last quick breakfast at the Garden Café, where I took my smoked salmon bagel to La Cucina. It was almost empty down there! I had opted to do the Easy Walk Off option, not because I needed to be off the ship early but because I find it easier to just keep my luggage with me and it worked well the last time I did it. As I was on my way to breakfast they had just called for the start of Easy Walk Off to begin and there were queues of people at the lifts with their luggage.

 

At about 8.30am I was ready to leave to I collected my belongings and went to the lifts, where I waited, and waited…and waited! Every time a lift stopped at my floor it was already full. Eventually an empty one arrived and when I got down to deck 5 I saw what the problem was, people were crammed everywhere to the extent I could barely get out of the lift! It was so disorganised and a lot of people were just milling around rather in a line to disembark. Some members of staff were suggesting that people who were leaving via midship, like me, get off the lift at the floor above or below, so I did this. Ah, the joy of an empty corridor on deck 6! It just meant I had to carry my cases down the spiral staircase into the casino, where I immediately joined the queue to leave, which went down quickly. As I walked through the luggage reclaim area for people who had left their bags outside their cabins the night before, I was surprised how basic the area was compared to the one in Barcelona (where I sailed on the Epic last time.) In Barcelona there is a really large hall with lots of conveyor belts with electronic screens displaying the tag colour, like they have in airports. It’s very well arranged and easy to navigate. However Miami was just a room with bags dumped everywhere. This was the most disorganised and crowded disembarkation I have ever experienced, including the last time I was on the Epic where I don’t remember there being any issues with getting off. Despite this, the process still wasn’t difficult and didn’t take very long.

 

As I was going through immigration, who was in the line in front of me, but my friend Tim. He was also getting a taxi to the airport so I asked if he wanted to share with me. There was barely any queue at all for the taxis which surprised me. The cab cost us a set fare of $25 plus a tip, and the driver dropped each of us off at the correct area of the terminal for our airlines, as there was some distance between them. I was at the airport for about 9.30am and as my flight wasn’t until 1pm, I had ages. Looking back, I should have checked out the luggage options more carefully, instead of assuming it would be best to do easy walk off. This is because you were able to disembark much later on this cruise than you could in Europe, if you chose one of the last coloured tags to be called, I think they allowed you to disembark at 9.45am. This way I could have probably avoided a lot of the lines on the ship, not had to lug my cases about for no reason, and arrived at the airport later. Hindsight huh?! Still, I always feel like I’m just waiting about to leave on my last morning anyway, so never mind.

 

I made it through check-in and security very quickly at MIA, both the United Airlines and airport staff were very efficient. I had so much time that I was able to chill out with first a coffee, then a (final :() Bloody Mary as well as getting a quick bite to eat. Everything went smoothly and on time with my flight to Washington. Unlike my journey out to the US, I didn’t have to collect my checked suitcase during my layover, it was automatically transferred to the next plane. I checked this several times just in case I had heard wrong! I was also surprised to find that I didn’t have to go through any security at Washington. I literally walked off one plane, got a train over to the correct terminal for my next flight and that was it. I had plenty of time to sit at a bar and have some lunch. My flight back to the UK was overnight and so I was really pleased to find that the plane was not full at all and I had an entire row of 3 seats to myself, as did the man sitting on the row opposite me. There was also no-one sat behind me, which meant I was able to lie down in relative privacy and managed some semblance of sleep for about three hours. Although we were about an hour late setting off because the plane had to be de-iced (!) the flight still landed not too much ahead of schedule at around 7am the following morning. My case had made it home with me too, thanks to the staff at Washington, I did have my doubts! And that was it, another holiday was over and I was back in rainy Manchester.

[BlueJai]

Fabulous review Lara, thanks so much for taking the time to post and letting us ride along with you! Glad you are home safe and sound and looking forward to your next adventure! We leave for Miami in 2 1/2 weeks and I only wish I had your gift of writing in order to share! I will do my best thought when we get back.

Jai

[keeponcruising]

I love, love, loved your review! Boy, I can't believe you could walk off with your luggage. I would have thought you would have too many to handle with all the outfits and shoes you brought.

 

I miss the EPIC and will have to plan a trip on her real soon.

 

Ellen

[meltingmoments]

Glad you made it safely back to our rainy city!! ;)

 

Thanks for taking the time to write your excellent review! It kept me entertained and felt like I was sailing the lovely Epic all over again!

We did the Western Med cruise out of Barcelona last year and have also stayed in Miami, so brought back lots of great memories!

Happy cruising from one Manchester lass to another! :)

[faith4keep]

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

[CazCruiser]

Hey Lara

Once again enjoyed your review. It's all about the people, food, sunshine and clothes for me too! :) The ports are just an add-on! Loved your outfits...will try to get some more dresses for my cruise but don't think I could totter in the heels you wear! I am booked on the Epic in June for a solo cruise - my third solo on the Epic! I tried Royal Caribbean last Autumn but it wasn't as good. Epic has a winning formula with the Solo lounge!

 

Interested to see that Viany is still the solo hostess. She was a bit 'school marm' on our first nights meet and greet last June but did a good job of setting up our various bookings in all the restaurants each night, so I did warm to her! We all ended up introducing ourselves and chatting by the end of the first night.

 

Thanks for sharing your review - a very entertaining read as always! I hope you get sailing again soon!

 

best wishes

 

Carol

[Cruzface]

Another great review. Thank you so much. We sail in the Epic in 13 days and your review made the wait a little more tolerable.

[Demonyte]

Thanks again for your review! Especially the last part about disembarkation is great info for us sailing on her next saturday.

 

We are embarking the Pearl the next morning and originally were planning driving to Everglades first thing in the morning after disembarking from the Epic but fortunately we booked a later tour and can now stay onboard as long as possible to avoid the worst crowds. :)

[lara_lox]

The (almost) end

 

I can honestly say that this was possibly the best holiday I have ever had. Was everything perfect? No. Did I have fun, try new things and meet some fantastic people? Yes. I had an amazing time but I also think that a holiday is what you make of it, and if you want to enjoy yourself you will, if you want to moan you will.

 

Going back on the Epic, having sailed on her before, was very much a positive experience. I didn’t feel bored or like I had done it all before, but instead glad that I had the opportunity to make the most of what the ship has to offer. There is so much to do that it is impossible to do it in one or even two trips. I think it is great to have the freedom to choose what you feel like at that time rather than having to pre-plan everything. You also have to accept that you can’t do everything at once, so just relax and go with the flow.

 

And I suppose here ends another of my truly Epic (ha, pun intended!) tales. Thank you for reading and bearing with me throughout this ridiculously long review! I will leave you with a few final pictures of me and my lovely new friends. Until next time folks… X

 

 

 

 

 

[jbpinkie]

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

 

Me too.... I was thinking about it, but just couldn't push the button. NCL should pay you Lara!!!

 

You mention the quiet zone on Deck 18. Is that the same as the Posh area I read about? I believe you buy a pass for there? I'm considering that but don't know how to get the pass or what the fee is. But if there is another area you recommend I would go there :)

[lara_lox]

Me too.... I was thinking about it, but just couldn't push the button. NCL should pay you Lara!!!

 

You mention the quiet zone on Deck 18. Is that the same as the Posh area I read about? I believe you buy a pass for there? I'm considering that but don't know how to get the pass or what the fee is. But if there is another area you recommend I would go there :)

 

Please tell NCL that lol!

 

Up at the very front of deck 18 (take the left hand outdoor elevator on deck 15 if you are facing away from the Great Outdoors) is the quiet zone area with the same padded loungers as they have in Posh...but free! The right hand elevator lead to Posh itself and requires card access which you get if you pay the fee. There are also loads and loads of normal loungers available on deck 18 even when the pool decks are jam packed.

[sdmike]

The port side ourdoor elevator to Posh requires key access. The starboard side allows you to get access to the freestyle and other public decks on that side of the ship.

[sotoncider]

I will also be on that Epic cruise, which will be my very first solo vacation ever! A little nervous I admit.

[A1SusieQ]

Thanks so much Lara for taking us with you. :)

 

Another Great review.

[NYGirl1002]

Thanks so much Lara for another great review.

 

I especially LOVED the dress you wore on your last night. It was fabulous dahling!!!

[dolita22]

Thanks for your review! I sailed the Epic the day you disembarked and had a fantastic time as well! Was hoping someone from my sailing would have posted a review by now, but no such luck. I guess we did just get home on Saturday... ;-) Would do one, but I got engaged on the cruise and was celebrating with family that was along and didn't participate in nearly as many events as you did! So thanks for letting me reminisce. You write great reviews and look like you have a good, fun time wherever you go. :)

[jbpinkie]

Thanks for your review! I sailed the Epic the day you disembarked and had a fantastic time as well! Was hoping someone from my sailing would have posted a review by now, but no such luck. I guess we did just get home on Saturday... ;-) Would do one, but I got engaged on the cruise and was celebrating with family that was along and didn't participate in nearly as many events as you did! So thanks for letting me reminisce. You write great reviews and look like you have a good, fun time wherever you go. :)

 

Congratulations on the engagement!!

[lara_lox]

Would do one, but I got engaged on the cruise and was celebrating with family that was along

 

Wow, congratulations! What a lovely way to make a cruise even more special :)

Edited February 5, 2013 by lara_lox

[AngAndBoys]

Thanks for another great review! I love your reviews and your clothes!! I know I read one of yours before I decided to take the plunge and go solo myself. I did it last December and met a ton of cool people and had a fabulous time on the Epic. So much so that we booked a "reunion cruise" for next year!

 

The Martini tasting had about the same effect on my whole group as it did on you. That was an INSANE amount of alcohol! I'm happy to report that I made it all the way back to my cabin before falling on the floor after the martini tasting! :cool:

 

Anyway, thanks again for taking the time. I will be seeing the Epic again in May. Can't wait!!

[iheartbda]

Anyone remember the contest to find the NCL It Girl? Lara should be the new It girl.:)

[lara_lox]

I don't remember the constest but I'm sure I could fulfill the role, especially if NCL sent me on a free cruise to celebrate!