Semi/Live: an "Epic" TA, 15 nights NY to Barcelona 04/22/23 - 05/07/23

[mking8288]

10 hours ago, dexddd said:

... The food pics are killing me.  Dinner here frozen spring rolls and sloppy Joe's.

LOL 😆 stop eating junk food on your end. Let me give you some creative ideas on what else to make, from the less frequently used NCL menu rotation ... these were pretty good. 

 

BTW, haven't seen salmon fillet available in the MDR - tonight's braised red snapper was good.  Swordfish & shrimp skewers, refreshing.  Not so sure about the beef flank steak, but tender.  Vegetable quiche & salad were light and low in calories by skipping the sauce & dressing.  Fish sandwich was just okay, just the same as served in O'Sheehan's everyday. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Tonight, priority seating in the Manhattan MDR was 20 minutes for us around 7 pm without reservation vs. regular wait time of 30 to 40 minutes.  Live music came on after 8 pm and the small dance floor, with 6 small tables added for extra seating, were quickly filled - apparently popular but I don't have an answer why they aren't offering in another lounge, to ease & speed up turnaround time for dining tables.

 

[mking8288]

This afternoon and tonight, Epic is barely moving under a full moon at 6 to 7 knots, expected to arrive Motril by 6 am, likely early. Sunrise 7:19 and all abroad 4:30 pm, sunset 9:01 pm - sun & clouds, 72 degree F. 

 

No lines outside the Epic for the evening's shows.  Howl at the Moon almost full with a few seats left.

 

For Ibiza and Palma, NCL offering $15 round-trip (per person) pier transfer & downtown , via shorex desk or guest services.

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[bedfordmom]

11 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Shopping for essentials, inside Epic's Duty-Free ... should you must buy them

 

I've never understood why the ship has such low inventories of everything,--souveniers, sunderies, clothes.  They could sell so much more if that had more inventory, Just my opinion

[mking8288]

Hola, good morning from Motril, Spain - we are docked at the pier ... far end of the long pier.  Shuttle buses lining up for a courtesy transfer instead of exercise walk along the pier.  Gangways set-up on Deck 4 ready & open around 8 am. 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Motril - a busy industrial & cruise port, gated & fenced, not really walkable, also with ferry services. A coordinated 10+ minutes free shuttle ride to town, dropped off at the Visitor Info Center next to the park & church, easy landmark to locate. Taxi stand across the street, with a line - apparently, a handful of passengers disembarked here with luggage & not continuing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2023 by mking8288

[AtSeaAlways]

Planned self guided tour of the day - Salobrena + castle.  There seemed to be a serious taxi shortage in town.   The city bus station is nearby- a few blocks from the tourist office- a few dozen fellow passengers are here also.    Tickets are not expensive.  Pro tip for NCL - load more than one shuttle bus at a time.  That is the ship from town below- not walkable.  

 

Edited May 4, 2023 by AtSeaAlways

[mking8288]

Orientation - 50 steps from the shuttle stop is the VIC with restrooms, toilets or W.C.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Church, park and view of the port city with the Epic in the distance - not really good for Pier runners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2023 by mking8288

[shof515]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

 

 

that sign is going to confuse lots of people with the wrong ship name

[dexddd]

21 hours ago, mking8288 said:

More from the Strait 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, the Epic putting out quite the bit of blue smoke at times?

 

Tangiers, think that was one place of action for a 007 movie in the 80s or early 90s with Tim D?

[dexddd]

14 hours ago, mking8288 said:

LOL 😆 stop eating junk food on your end. Let me give you some creative ideas on what else to make, from the less frequently used NCL menu rotation ... these were pretty good. 

 

BTW, haven't seen salmon fillet available in the MDR - tonight's braised red snapper was good.  Swordfish & shrimp skewers, refreshing.  Not so sure about the beef flank steak, but tender.  Vegetable quiche & salad were light and low in calories by skipping the sauce & dressing.  Fish sandwich was just okay, just the same as served in O'Sheehan's everyday. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I see NCL classes up the Funchal upside down fish to lop off the head and tail, for your convenience, of course.

[dexddd]

14 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Tonight, priority seating in the Manhattan MDR was 20 minutes for us around 7 pm without reservation vs. regular wait time of 30 to 40 minutes.  Live music came on after 8 pm and the small dance floor, with 6 small tables added for extra seating, were quickly filled - apparently popular but I don't have an answer why they aren't offering in another lounge, to ease & speed up turnaround time for dining tables.

 

Ohh, you caught Kevin Sheehan filming another undercover boss but he isn't the boss.  Maybe a spin-off, Undercover Guest?

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, shof515 said:

that sign is going to confuse lots of people with the wrong ship name

Haha, the bus pulled up just now and the tired, exhausted and hungry just piled on the bus, nobody stopping to ask or check.

 

[dexddd]

13 hours ago, bedfordmom said:

I've never understood why the ship has such low inventories of everything,--souveniers, sunderies, clothes.  They could sell so much more if that had more inventory, Just my opinion

They could sell more if their prices weren't too high.  Maybe for some markets reasonable, but not for us.  Other lines much more reasonable.  Plus if you are flying the hassle not worth it..

[bedfordmom]

1 hour ago, dexddd said:

They could sell more if their prices weren't too high.  Maybe for some markets reasonable, but not for us.  Other lines much more reasonable.  Plus if you are flying the hassle not worth it..

Right about the cost. Low inventory and high cost.  Small reasonable souvenirs that you can pack would be a bonus. Some folks don’t have to fly one way on a TA or at all after all on a closed loop from NY. On our Feb Getaway we were desparate to buy something for the kids after missed DR port so a half way decent gift shop would have been appreciated. So we bought rum at our local packie for them. 

[mking8288]

Last batch of pictures around the church, the park and nearby interesting buildings that give characters to Motril.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Wondering thru the shopping area near this area, not all the stores are open yet, but the ladies went inside as soon as I spotted it, knowing that they aren't going to skip this unscheduled stop.  

 

None of us wanted to see McDonald, Burger King or get pizza for lunch ... looking for tapas & found none - aside from one that's in an open air courtyard with bad reviews - that's no can't do.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2023 by mking8288

[cruiseny4life]

21 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Wondering thru the shopping area near this area, not all the stores are open yet, but the ladies went inside as soon as I spotted it, knowing that they aren't going to skip this unscheduled stop.  

 

None of us wanted to see McDonald, Burger King or get pizza for lunch ... looking for tapas & found none - aside from one that's in an open air courtyard with bad reviews - that's no can't do.

 

 

 

 

Our cruise styles are so different...well, actually, not yours and mine, but yours and my husband. If he sees a KFC or McDonald's in a foreign land, we just must stop! I would prefer to find some local dive bar, hole in the wall...but I do have to say I've had quality KFC in Russia, Bermuda, and Canada. Same with McDonald's. They are just better in other countries.

 

Now, let me hide my face as I blush in embarrassment for admitting that. 🙂

 

I must say, from your previous post...I'm loving (or is that Mclovin') the blue sky! We haven't seen blue sky in days in central New York. I almost forgot what a beautiful day looks like. I'm glad you're having them on your trip.

[mking8288]

We headed back to the ship early, trophies in a tow (2 shopping bags, minus 4 bulky boxes in "support" of sail & sustain in recycling) - mission target shifted and accomplished. 

 

DW and SIL chose 2 pair of shoes, made in Spain  over tapas for lunch ... that juicy Wrangler burger in OSH is free & freshly made to order. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2023 by mking8288

[AtSeaAlways]

2 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Haha, the bus pulled up just now and the tired, exhausted and hungry just piled on the bus, nobody stopping to ask or check.

 

DW here and some very young crew were also confused- I had Ship Security fix the signs.  In Barcelona or Tampa this could be a problem.  

[AtSeaAlways]

The castle atop Salobrena was nice and well restored.  A few weeks at the Garden Cafe Dessert Bar got us fortified for the climb up the hill.  Near the top we found a lovely lunch place.  I had Almond soup.  Taxis were invisible.  The area bus was cheap like 3 Euros RT and reliable and goes by area beaches- lots of them.  It can drop you off right by the shuttle stop and takes Euros onboard.  

Edited May 4, 2023 by AtSeaAlways

[The P]

Shoes over tapas, absolutely! The shoes will outlast the tapas!!! Good choice, Susan and SIL!

[mking8288]

3 hours ago, bedfordmom said:

Right about the cost. Low inventory and high cost.  Small reasonable souvenirs that you can pack would be a bonus. Some folks don’t have to fly one way on a TA or at all after all on a closed loop from NY.

 

4 hours ago, dexddd said:

They could sell more if their prices weren't too high. 

 

Those items you saw were in the duty-free section, not the gift shop ... which carried zilch, nada, nothing.  In the old days, gift shop sold these.  

 

Aren't sure if we should be grateful as back in January, saw far fewer merchandise on the 12 days Getaway. 

 

$2.40 for a tiny box (10 pc. travel sized) of Kleenex tissues. That's not highway robbery per se, piracy & being captive at sea ... well, we came prepared.  

 

I am happy 😁 to report that they are selling a box of assorted of Band-Aids and you don't need to go to Deck 10 to see a nurse first (at the medical center onboard) for our (in) convenience, of course.

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, The P said:

Shoes over tapas, absolutely! The shoes will outlast the tapas!!! Good choice, Susan and SIL!

Hi, Sharon ... see all the fun you are missing, time to put a TA on your bucket list - last minute deal, perhaps ??  I just can't promise or guarantee great weather for the duration.

 

She already regretted.  Instead of buying 2, should've brought 4 pairs, 😆😆😆.  They got plenty of Euros in their money belts and even carried their own (shopping) bags - I just ride shotgun & watch their decoy bags as they're busy trying all the shoes out.