NCL Epic: European Odyssey- Mediterranean Solo Trip Review/Blog

[SuiteTraveler]

What a wonderful review! I am enjoying this very much - thank you for taking the time!

[Lilystar]

Welcome back!

 

It was time to leave Italy for a few days...and the first stop on the NCL Epic outside of Italy was Cannes, France. I did not stay in Cannes, instead I took the ship's excursion to Monaco/Monte Carlo, somewhere I have always wanted to visit. I was VERY excited about this stop. It turned out absolutely beautifully!

 

Blog Post: Cannes & Monaco- the Cote d'Azur!

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2014/09/cannes-monaco-cote-dazur.html?spref=tw

[Lilystar]

What a wonderful review! I am enjoying this very much - thank you for taking the time!

 

You're welcome! Thanks for commenting. :)

[Lilystar]

Barcelona!

 

Time for Espana! The ship stopped in Palma De Mallorca, Spain but honestly I did not do anything worthy of writing a blog about. As the ship pulled in to port in Palma, it was pouring rain and it literally never stopped the entire day. I did get off the ship and walked around for awhile up until I was just too wet and cranky to continue and headed back. The city didn't interest me much and I couldn't go to the beach, which was the plan before the trip.

 

So onto the next port of Barcelona! I opted to do my own thing in this port after doing some research that it was easily navigable by yourself. I went to admire Gaudi's work at the Parc Guell and La Sagrada and also stopped to take a ramble down La Rambla!

 

Blog Post: Viva Espana!

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2014/08/jackies-european-odyssey-viva-barcelona.html?spref=tw

[Cruzinbabe06]

Thank you for taking the time to post your review.

 

I have to get up for work in 5 hrs, but couldn't stop reading. :p

[Lilystar]

Thank you for taking the time to post your review.

 

I have to get up for work in 5 hrs, but couldn't stop reading. :p

 

LOL! Well it'll still be here later if you want to continue. I got a couple more to post soon! :)

[Lilystar]

Those of you still with me...I hope my blog does this next destination justice. Out of everything I did and every country I visited whilst on this vacation, nothing prepared me for the surreal Amalfi Coast. Visiting Positano was one of my top reasons to go on this trip to begin with and it turned out to be far more amazing than I could have imagined. Unfortunately I did not have a lot of time here but I will be back on a future trip hopefully soon.

 

If you're ever on a cruise that stops in Naples, do yourself a favor and venture out onto the Amalfi Coast...don't go all the way to Naples and NOT do this. I promise, it is more than you could ever imagine.

 

I chose to put together a private excursion with RomeInLimo and gathered up a group of people here on Cruise Critic on the roll call. It was a little nervr wracking putting trust into other strangers that they would show up and pay etc...but it paid off in the end and everyone that came on the excursion was very happy. So the driver would be there to pick us up at the port then we were headed to the Amalfi Coast into Positano, then to a winery at the base of Mt. Vesuvius for lunch/wine tasting and finally onto Pompeii. This blog will be in 2 separate posts (Part 1 Positano and part 2 Pompeii/winery) If anyone has questions about the process of booking the private excursion, feel free to comment here and I will help with advice!

 

Blog Post: Amalfi Coast- Positano- Bel Paese di mare!!

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2014/08/jackies-european-odyssey-amalfi-coast.html?spref=tw

[Lilystar]

I am accompanying my sister (the single woman) but this is a dream trip for both of us .. we will be departing in October..

 

So I am going to very eagerly digest your blog posts and any other sage advice, helpful hints, and rave reviews you are willing to post...

 

Thank you for sharing your experiences

 

Thanks so much! If you have any questions, please let me know!

[keeponcruising]

Although this really is not a review of the EPIC, I am really loving it. You have such a good writing style. I wish I could write like you. Are you going to review the EPIC at all? Just curious.

[Lilystar]

Although this really is not a review of the EPIC, I am really loving it. You have such a good writing style. I wish I could write like you. Are you going to review the EPIC at all? Just curious.

 

Yeah, I have been thinking about that! This trip for me had very little to do with the actual ship. It was literally a nice vessel in which to facilitate my dream of visiting Europe. This itinerary was so port intensive that I literally never had time to do more than eat dinner and sleep and I was jumping off first thing the next morning in port. I didn't have time to go the Casino or lay by the pool (except for the one solitary sea day) or watch shows or anything. I would get back onto the ship at 6pm, shower, change clothes, go eat and head back to the cabin to sleep and do it all over the next day.

 

That being said, there are definitely some really cool things about the solo cruising experience on Epic so yes, in answer to your question, I will indeed write at least one post about all my experiences on board! :)

Edited August 16, 2015 by Lilystar

[Lilystar]

Welcome back to the second half of the day in the Port of Naples! The first half was so amazing that I wasn't even sure what to expect for the second half of the day. Giovanni drove us out of Positano, this time, not along the coastal highway, but rather through the tunnels to get us back toward Mt. Vesuvius where we were headed to a local winery for lunch and a wine tasting. After that we headed to the lost city of Pompeii.

 

Blog Post: Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2014/08/jackies-european-odyssey-mt-vesuvius.html?spref=tw

[Huntingdon1701]

Another great update! The trip to Pompeii was the main reason I booked this cruise, so it's great to see and hear a taster of what is to come.

 

I'm also looking forward to your thoughts on the ship - although given that the excursions are all about 7 or 8 hours, I'm not sure how much energy I will have left to explore it.

[Lilystar]

Since I just finished the last port before disembarking the ship in Civitavecchia, I thought this would be a good time to talk about my experiences actually ON the Epic!

 

I broke up the blog post into a couple sections the studio cabins, studio lounge, food & pools!

 

Blog Post: The Norwegian Epic...Studio cabins and traveling solo!

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2015/08/jackies-european-odyssey-norwegian-epic.html?spref=tw

[Baseball fan]

I loved your review. I've sailed solo before but this will be my first solo NCL cruise (Escape TA).

 

Dena

[Lilystar]

I loved your review. I've sailed solo before but this will be my first solo NCL cruise (Escape TA).

 

Dena

 

On a TA you'll have plenty of time to explore the ship and relax. Something I didn't have the luxury of. Have a great time! :)

Edited August 18, 2015 by Lilystar

[Orlcruz]

Thank u for posting ur review, I'm enjoying reading ur blog!!

 

Do u recall what time u were able to disembark? I'll be on this cruise in November and the Epic is scheduled to arrive at 6 AM and I need to catch an 11:05 AM flight.

[Lilystar]

Thank u for posting ur review, I'm enjoying reading ur blog!!

 

Do u recall what time u were able to disembark? I'll be on this cruise in November and the Epic is scheduled to arrive at 6 AM and I need to catch an 11:05 AM flight.

 

Unfortunately I don't remember :(, but I can tell you that I did do the self carry-off process which meant I could be one of the first off the ship. I highly recommend that instead of having them take your luggage off.

Edited September 1, 2015 by Lilystar

[Orlcruz]

Unfortunately I don't remember :(, but I can tell you that I did do the self carry-off process which meant I could be one of the first off the ship. I highly recommend that instead of having them take your luggage off.

 

 

Thanks for the tip!!!!! [emoji3]