Norwegian Epic - A Taste of Epic
NCL's brand new 153,000gt monster, Norwegian Epic, was due to have a preview in Rotterdam after being handed over by the shipyard in Saint Nazaire.  There was a two night jolly from the 19th-21st June 2010 followed by an overnighter to Southampton on the 21st.  These would both be classed as inaugurals and be followed by another two night jolly on the 22nd and a transtlantic to New York on the 24th, also called inaugurals.  At least she wouldn't be having two months' worth like Norwegian Gem!  Originally in the UK, only the transat had been available to book which was unusual since they'd done the same with Norwegian Pearl to Southampton at the end of 2006 and Norwegian Gem to Dover in October 2007.  My friend Gary had been on Pearl and said it was a waste of money.  Also they arrived on the 1st December for 7am in the cold, rain and dark in the QEII Terminal.  Nothing was done even when she sailed the next day.  This time was mid-June so hopefully hot and sunny, or at the very least dry after the past few cold summers.  Plans for a trip to New York fell through so I used part of what I would've spent having a moment of madness on the 21st May 2010.  This was the closest I'd come to booking a cruise since Vision of the Seas in February 2009, eleven weeks before the departure date.  The flight from Southampton to Amsterdam on Flybe was booked first, little knowing at the time BAA's booking engine was actually run by lastminute.com so it didn't include checked baggage.  I had to call to add it, costing an extra tenner when if I'd booked direct it would have been the same price.  It hadn't even given me a proper booking reference, just theirs.  Then it was a trip to Thomas Cook in the morning since NCL's website was useless when you put in one passenger, saying to phone or request a call back.  Fat lot of help THAT is!  I had checked the Thomas Cook website and seen there was a mere £18 between the lowest grade inside and balcony so decided to go for some fresh air.  I'd noted the price on the site and was surprised to get it actually a tenner less at £207.  That'd pay for my hold baggage then!  Darren at NCL told Samantha the cabin was 9235 and the last.  Last what, we didn't know since he hadn't elaborated.  We both had a terrible time trying to find it on the brochure plan because the numbered them so small.  But it was starboard aft once we'd finally found it.  Once I got home it was time to book my accommodation.  Where could I possibly stay but on the gorgeous Rotterdam (V), now she was open as a hotel?  Gave me the perfect opportunity to visit and two nights should just about do it.  If I missed anything then tough.  I opted for an Oceanview since an inside wouldn't give you that ocean liner feeling.  It was 90 euros a night plus breakfast for 17.50 euros each day.  The booking was in Dutch so I hoped I'd clicked on the correct things.  I think all this plus being on two ships I'd never set foot on before was a better than a weekend in New York.  I'll get there one day.  Maybe as a transat. On the 5th June I received a call from Becky about my e-ticket.  I hadn't printed it off so she did it for me as well as my luggage label.  I hadn't even thought about it.  RCCL and P&O send email reminders.  A week before I received proper NCL luggage tags!  I booked a car to the airporr using a new company since Silverdrive were on holiday and it only cost £25 which isn't bad.  Meanwhile NCL changed the name of the trip from 'Inaugural Cruise' to 'A Taste of Epic'. Early start on the 19th since my flight was at 0710, arriving Schiphol approximately 0930.  I hadn't flown from Southampton since November 1995 and that was also to Amsterdam, but using KLM back then.  Check in was a doddle then I went through security, did a little shopping then waited at Gate 1 for boarding.  A rather interesting mural would have been better had it been Queen Mary 2!
The flight left about ten minutes late but it was pleasant except for the fat bloke next to me.  Orange, coffee AND cider at that time in the morning????  I was never given the option to have anything since my back was in the overhead locker and he was inconsiderate.  We arrived at Schiphol a little early, docking with the easyJets and other cheapo airlines.  It was a very long walk to passport control but that went very fast.  Baggage was a little wait but when it emerged on the carousel, mine was fouth so I gr4abbed it and headed out, trying to find where to buy a train ticket.  Dutch trains are a nightmare because the information can be sparse.  Luckily I'd had experience from when Rowan and I went to Rotterdam from Amsterdam while on Vision.  Because I was earlier than I thought, I had no idea when the next train was so asked some people who didn't know either then someone who worked there.  She was very helpful and asked me to answer some questions for her survey.  When the train came I noticed unlike here, no one offered to help with my case.  The constant pain in my side I'd had several months wasn't too bad but a hand wouldn't have gone amiss.  I'd opted for first class, remembering the clamour going in the second coaches last year.  First was 18.50 euros and was always virtually empty.
I recognised the skyline of the city I had become so familiar with since my first visit on Aurora in September 2007 and now was getting excited.  Epic had arrived for 9am so just two hours before me.  Soon I would see her in all her ugly glory!  With Rotterdam and Epic, it was a real Beauty and the Beast.
My friend Ben had to work so was unable to meet me.  Again no one offered any help as I struggled getting my case down the stairs.  Major work going on around the station but I eventually found the taxi rank.  The one I got in was a Mercedes - oooh!  It was only about 16 euros though to the Cruise Hotel.  My first sight of Epic was from the traffic lights leading to the Erasmus bridge and she looked HORRIBLE!  Even my taxi driver compared her to one of the blocks of flats.
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			(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 19th-22nd & 28th June 2010 Not to be reproduced without permission