NCL Epic questions

[Suki1527]

Hello all

My family and I are on Epic in 5 weeks for back to back. We are from U.K. I have several questions on behalf of my party and it would be great if all could be answered but I'm aware some may not know, any help is much appreciated.

 

1) do we have to exit the ship on the crossover day (Saturday)? - we have same cabin and plan to stay on board and take advantage of quiet decks and facilities and generally chill by bar/pool.

 

2) we have booked Orlando Kennedy space trip for last day then drop off at airport. Will the coach hold our luggage securely for us whilst on the ship arranged excursion ?

 

3) I have ordered 2 celebration packages for the cabin of my parents for 70th birthday and 50th anniversary and booked reservations at the speciality restaurants on both evenings, will I be able to have the cake (part of celebration package) delivered to restaurant and presented there instead of cabin?

 

4) we are bronze/silver tier and I've heard the latitudes has changed, we sail 11th March, will we get sparkling wine in cabin?

 

5) are we able to request robes for balcony cabin at no charge?

 

6) what toiletries and quality are in cabins (thinking ahead for packing/ weight restrictions)?

 

7) can I reserve tender tickets on embarkation day for both weeks tender ports?

 

8) we all have iPhones on U.K. network sim, no internet package. Can we still use iMessage on board at no cost or is iconcierge our only option? We don't mind as only $10 per phone. (Much needed as were spread across 5 cabins and need to locate each other for dinner etc)

 

9) COZUMEL- is there an hop on hop off type tour of island? We've done C twice before (dolphin place and all inc beach place). We would like to walk off ship, browse shops, have a drink and general nosey about island for 2-4 hours max. Any ideas or tips?

 

10) any other tips, suggestions etc welcome.

 

Thanks for reading.

Kerry

X

 

 

 

 

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[mnventure]

Hello all

My family and I are on Epic in 5 weeks for back to back. We are from U.K. I have several questions on behalf of my party and it would be great if all could be answered but I'm aware some may not know, any help is much appreciated.

 

1) do we have to exit the ship on the crossover day (Saturday)? - we have same cabin and plan to stay on board and take advantage of quiet decks and facilities and generally chill by bar/pool.

 

2) we have booked Orlando Kennedy space trip for last day then drop off at airport. Will the coach hold our luggage securely for us whilst on the ship arranged excursion ?

 

3) I have ordered 2 celebration packages for the cabin of my parents for 70th birthday and 50th anniversary and booked reservations at the speciality restaurants on both evenings, will I be able to have the cake (part of celebration package) delivered to restaurant and presented there instead of cabin?

 

4) we are bronze/silver tier and I've heard the latitudes has changed, we sail 11th March, will we get sparkling wine in cabin?

 

5) are we able to request robes for balcony cabin at no charge?

 

6) what toiletries and quality are in cabins (thinking ahead for packing/ weight restrictions)?

 

7) can I reserve tender tickets on embarkation day for both weeks tender ports?

 

8) we all have iPhones on U.K. network sim, no internet package. Can we still use iMessage on board at no cost or is iconcierge our only option? We don't mind as only $10 per phone. (Much needed as were spread across 5 cabins and need to locate each other for dinner etc)

 

9) COZUMEL- is there an hop on hop off type tour of island? We've done C twice before (dolphin place and all inc beach place). We would like to walk off ship, browse shops, have a drink and general nosey about island for 2-4 hours max. Any ideas or tips?

 

10) any other tips, suggestions etc welcome.

 

Thanks for reading.

Kerry

 

 

1. I believe they have you get off the ship, go to a private area, and then you are the first ones back on the ship.

 

2. I haven't done this, but I think so.

 

3. I don't now.

 

4. I think so. The new program starts today, so few (if any) have experienced this yet.

 

5. You should be able to.

 

6. Shampoo and soap.

 

7. I think you have to do the 2nd week when the 2nd week starts. You are basically on 2 cruises.

 

8. I've heard that iMessage works for free with the ship's wifi (and the NCL app?). I will be testing this in a couple weeks.

 

9. Sorry, don't know. Hopefully someone else knows.

[Suki1527]

Thanks mnventure. Your answers are appreciated [emoji106]🏻

 

 

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[Zippeedee]

You should have a celebration greeting card in your cabin when you embark. The bottom of the card is a coupon to bring to a restaurant when you have your celebration dinner. They will bring the cake to your table.

[tulch]

I can offer an update on three of your questions:

 

1. We completed a B2B on 2/4/2017. What is required in terms of your cross-over day is entirely up to US Customs. They will advise NCL whether you are required to process out, wait in the terminal and then re-board.

 

For our sailing, we waited in the Cavern until the ship was cleared of all other passengers. We were escorted off the ship by NCL personnel. We flashed our passports (picture page) to a US Customs agent who collected our customs declaration. (You don't declare anything on it because you are not entering the country.) We passed through a back corridor of the Customs area and were immediately re-boarded. The only waiting was done on-board the ship. The Haven/Suites passengers apparently were miffed enough that we were boarded before they were that an announcement was made in the terminal that the ONLY reason we were being boarded before everyone else was because we were B2B passengers.

 

2. Bathrobes are "standard" in balcony cabins 7 higher. If they are not in your stateroom when you board, simply ask your room steward for them.

 

3. New Latitudes program: Got this from my PCC who uses a different grid than what apparently has been "published." There is a lot of confusion about the new program but it is really quite simple. None of the previous Latitude perks have been taken away. NCL has added to them. For example, the "old" Platinum Latitudes offered a dinner for two at Le Bistro or La Cucina plus a bottle of wine - PER member. So if two in a cabin were both Platinum, each got a dining certificate. To that, NCL now has added an additional dinner per cabin. So, nothing was taken away; just another dinner added. Free laundry is still per Platinum level passenger (not cabin), etc. I believe Internet minutes also have been added to Platinum level passengers. Again, nothing has been taken away for every level; just new stuff added.

 

Hope this helps somewhat.

[Suki1527]

Thanks. This info is just what I was after. Much appreciated. X

 

 

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[KeithJenner]

New Latitudes program: Got this from my PCC who uses a different grid than what apparently has been "published." There is a lot of confusion about the new program but it is really quite simple. None of the previous Latitude perks have been taken away. NCL has added to them. For example, the "old" Platinum Latitudes offered a dinner for two at Le Bistro or La Cucina plus a bottle of wine - PER member. So if two in a cabin were both Platinum, each got a dining certificate. To that, NCL now has added an additional dinner per cabin. So, nothing was taken away; just another dinner added. Free laundry is still per Platinum level passenger (not cabin), etc. I believe Internet minutes also have been added to Platinum level passengers. Again, nothing has been taken away for every level; just new stuff added.

 

 

Whilst I'd love your PCC to be correct, especially regarding the meals, I would be extremely surprised if he is.

 

The detail online is pretty specific and it clearly says that the meals are per stateroom, and others have had this confirmed to them.

 

I'm afraid it looks to me like fairly typical misinformation from the shoreside staff.

 

Obviously we will only know for sure once we get reports from onboard, but I'm not hopeful.

[BreeYark]

About question #9, I don't know of any HOHO in Cozumel, but if all you want is walk, shop, drink and eat for a few hours, you won't need any. NCL ships dock directly in San Miguel, where all the good stuff is. Only reason to get out of San Miguel would be to see dolphins, beaches or mayan ruins.

[Suki1527]

Cheers BreeYark, that sounds perfect. X

 

 

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[tulch]

RE: Platinum Meals

 

My PCC indeed is correct. Read descriptions carefully. The only change to meals is that one has been added and THAT meal is per cabin. The other rewards of dinner for two remain "per guest." (Incidentally, SHE is one of the most senior PCC's with the company, has received numerous awards and knows her stuff.)

[KeithJenner]

RE: Platinum Meals

 

 

 

My PCC indeed is correct. Read descriptions carefully. The only change to meals is that one has been added and THAT meal is per cabin. The other rewards of dinner for two remain "per guest." (Incidentally, SHE is one of the most senior PCC's with the company, has received numerous awards and knows her stuff.)

 

 

 

I've read the descriptions carefully, and they are different to what the website says, and what has been said to others.

 

 

 

This is from the website:

 

 

 

"Dinner for Two at Cagney's or Le Bistro with a Bottle of Wine4

 

(per stateroom)

 

 

 

Dinner for Two at Moderno or La Cucina4

 

(per stateroom)"

 

 

 

This is want the FAQs say:

 

 

 

"What do the speciality dinner benefits cover?

 

 

 

This benefit offers two dinners for two at a speciality restaurant for Platinum, Platinum Plus and Ambassador guests. Each stateroom will receive a voucher in their Welcome Back card on embarkation day for:

 

 

 

- One dinner for two at Cagney’s or Le Bistro with a bottle of wine

 

- One dinner for two at Moderno or La Cucina

 

This benefit is no longer delivered per guest but now delivered per stateroom. Service charges are included in this benefit."

 

 

 

Or this one from the same FAQs

 

 

 

"Will we receive four dinners for two if I sail with a guest who is Platinum, Platinum Plus or Ambassador?

 

 

 

No, this benefit is delivered as two dinners for two per stateroom."

 

 

 

 

 

I'll reserve judgement until we hear from peoples experience, but I know which one I think is more likely to be correct.

Edited February 7, 2017 by KeithJenner

[hawkeyetlse]

My PCC indeed is correct. Read descriptions carefully.

You claimed above that your PCC "uses a different grid than what apparently has been 'published'". So it's not a question of reading descriptions carefully, is it? The problem is having access to certain descriptions in the first place, and knowing which of two mutually contradictory descriptions to trust, because no matter how carefully you read them, they can't both be true.

 

The idea that "nothing has been taken away, just new stuff added" is a lovely fairy tale that should win your PCC some more awards. :p

[sanger727]

Can only address your last 2 questions. No, iMessage runs on the internet. You cannot use it without purchasing the internet package. We were just on the jade and iMessages only came through when I connected to the ships internet at $1 a minute or in port. You can do the iconcierge for the $10 per phone. That is designed to message between phones on the ship in the app (still not using iMessage) but some people have reported being able to iMessage and message people at home due to a glitch in the system. That did not work for me on the jade so I wouldn't count on it working. But for us iconcierge to message each other on the ship was well worth $10 per phone

 

Never heard of a HOHO bus in Cozumel. I'd just take a taxi into the town area for shops and lunch.

 

Misc tips. Hopefully you are aware of the bathroom layout; it didn't bother me and BF but I could see it bothering a family sharing a room. Just good to know ahead of time. Make reservations for the comedy shows. Can do that at the reservation desk and kiosks. Reservations get in first.

 

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[tulch]

When you pose a question here, you presumably are looking for others to share their experiences. It is sometimes helpful to read how cruisers may understand a policy, promotion, situation, etc. However, if they have not themselves experienced it, their opinion are -- well, just THEIR opinions. If you want more definitive answers, go to the source, namely, ask NCL. If you are still unsure about that response, ask someone else at NCL. You are more likely to get correct information from NCL than from someone who is trying to be helpful, but nonetheless is sharing their personal opinion.

 

This would be especially true for your family, since you are sailing from the UK where policies and promotions might differ from those of us who have traveled from the US. I don't know whether the UK has "Personal Cruise Consultants" -- I suspect it does -- but I would try to identify a good PCC and pose your travel questions there. Good luck and hope you enjoy the Epic as much as we did!

[hawkeyetlse]

When you pose a question here, you presumably are looking for others to share their experiences. It is sometimes helpful to read how cruisers may understand a policy, promotion, situation, etc. However, if they have not themselves experienced it, their opinion are -- well, just THEIR opinions. If you want more definitive answers, go to the source, namely, ask NCL. If you are still unsure about that response, ask someone else at NCL. You are more likely to get correct information from NCL than from someone who is trying to be helpful, but nonetheless is sharing their personal opinion.

It's not a bad idea to ask NCL, but the answers they give are not necessarily definitive, either. NCL employees with no authority (like PCCs) can only give their opinions and interpretations of policies, too, and unfortunately, they frequently turn out to be wrong. Particularly concerning new policies like the updated Latitudes Rewards program (which is perhaps understandable), but also for long-established rules. In those cases, turning to the collective knowledge of this board can be faster and more reliable than a phone call (or multiple phone calls) to NCL.

 

But you are right to remind people that these forums also contain noise. Even people who cruised very recently can misremember or misunderstand the experiences that they post about (for example, when you incorrectly stated that b2b passengers "are not entering the country" on turnaround day).