Norwegian Epic Transatlantic: Embarkation Day

Today we board the Norwegian Epic for our first transatlantic cruise; just 19 months after booking!

I had a hard time falling asleep last night but finally did and got a few hours sleep. We were up at 7:30 and after getting ready for the day went for breakfast and coffee at a nearby shop, Lulu.

Four Americanos and a chocolate croissant for me was just 9 euros.

Epic Embarkation

We then went back to the Park Hotel Barcelona and packed up. We went to the lobby around 9:45 am and right after checking out, I had a text that the driver had arrived. I had arranged transfer via Welcome Pickups. Antonio was waiting outside and loaded our bags in his sedan for the short ride to the cruise port. He was very nice and chatty.

There were several cruise ships in port and the Norwegian Epic was at terminal A.

We walked right up to a porter to drop our bags and then went inside where we sat for a long time.

Checkin for regular folks (us) didn’t start until 11:40 am. Once we got othe front of the latitudes line, we got group 5 and waited another 15-20 minutes to board.

One cause for delay was that the Spanish authorities were checking the passport of every person boarding. This was after we showed them at check in. The line to even get into the terminal was very long and I guess some people just got onboard by the time of the muster drill at 4 pm.

We did get this flyer with the ship map and boarding day information.

We boarded and while Sister T headed to the smoking area (it ended up being closed for refueling) I had a mojito at the atrium bar.

She found me and we had lunch at the Taste restaurant. It was about 1 pm when we checked in there.

Boarding Day Lunch

It was the same lunch menu we had on boarding the Epic two years prior.

Sister T had chicken pho, shrimp pasta and key lime parfait. I had tomato soup to start.

My entree was fish and chips.

This was capped off with orange chocolate mousse.

All delicious with great service.

Epic Inside Cabin

Cabins opened about 2 pm and we headed there to start getting settled.

There was more room than I anticipated.

I do wish the TV was a bit bigger.

The bathroom setup was exactly as I remembered.

The shower was on the other side of the hall.

Our room steward, Joseph, knocked on the door shortly afterwards to introduce himself and give us our suitcases. We then divvied up the storage and unpacked.

The right side of the closet had a safe.

Teresa came and got me to go to the muster drill at 4:15; our station is the theater which is comfortable at least.

Embarkation Evening

We went our separate ways afterwards and I went to have a cocktail at Shakers before dinner (citrus gem).

I noticed the snack mix was in a disposable container instead of the glass bottles.

We met at the Manhattan room where we had dinner reservations at. 6:30 pm. We were seated at a table for two in a main thoroughfare; won’t accept that table again.

Our service was great though. I noticed the menu was handed to us without a folder. This was due to the GI virus outbreak on the previous cruise.

I had vegetable rolls to start.

This was followed by the cobb salad.

My entree was beef sirloin roast.

Sister T selected spinach dip with chips, Scotch broth soup and hake fish. Next up was the dessert course.

Sister T had the mint chocolate mousse (I would have gotten it if I hand’t already had mousse at lunch).

and I went with Boston cream pie and coffee.

I ran off to the theater to catch the Epic Beatles show and Sister T. Went to the freshly opened casino. We had pulled out of Barcelona while dining.

At the show, the hotel director claimed the boarding fiasco was due to a change where every person’s passport was being checked. That was new from two years ago. He also said we’re arriving in port tomorrow and hour or more early and that our port stop in St. Thomas will be a mess getting off due to having to go through US immigration.

After this show, I went to the headliners club and enjoyed about 20 minutes of the violinist. I took a club soda back to the cabin to take my evening pills and catch up on my journal before retiring earlier (tonight).

Had 5,972 steps and 1.9 miles. Materials left in our cabin include this letter about a GI outbreak.