NORWEGIAN EPIC TRANSATLANTIC CROSSING

Did your parent’s ever quote Thumper’s Law to you when you were growing up?

My mother did.  She would hold her hand up like a stop sign, point her index finger upward and politely say "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all".  Thumper’s Law (from Bambi) has been spinning inside my head since I returned from my recent TransAtlantic crossing on the Norwegian Epic.

After 14 days at sea I find myself struggling to come up with positive things to write about this ship.  I find this perplexing as I read that the Epic enjoys a 66% satisfaction rate.  Built in 2010 and refurbished in 2015, with a guest capacity of 4,100, the Norwegian Epic ranks as number 3 on the top 10 list for largest cruise ships in the world.  The Westbound TransAtlantic route for this cruise was Barcelona to Port Canaveral.  

First was a flight from Oregon to Tampa to meet up with my cruise partner and an overnight stay.  The next morning was a drive from Tampa to Orlando which took 2.5 hours, putting me at the JetBlue ticket counter at 10:30am.  I would be flying JetBlue from Orlando to Boston and then TAP Portugal Airlines from Boston to Barcelona via Lisbon.

I had completed an online check-in with TAP Portugal Airlines and paid a

$100 excess baggage fee for my second bag but, unfortunately, when I presented my paid receipt to JetBlue they refused to honor it.  Instead, JetBlue charged me $95 for the excess baggage fees and suggested that I apply for a refund from TAP Portugal Airlines for the $100 I paid to them.  Lesson learned through this experience: The originating airline dictates the baggage fees paid. 

My passport includes Global Entry as well as TSA Pre-Check so passing through security at Orlando was quite simple.   I am not sure I would do this particular routing again because of the long layover required in Lisbon but the ticket price was under $450 and included 1 FREE checked bag, meal service and pre-reserved seating.   The TAP flight was very comfortable with an A330 aircraft and seating configuration of 2-4-2.  In addition to complimentary pillows/blankets and earphones in the coach cabin, each seat is equipped with a USB port and audio jack, as well as a 110/220 outlet under the seat in front of you.

After a long 36 hours I finally arrived in Barcelona, cleared immigrations and customs and made my way down to baggage claim.  I patiently waited as suitcases dropped onto the revolving carousel.  As my eyes were scanning each bag looking for my black Samsonite bag with the blue security strap,  suddenly the carousel stops.  You know that sinking feeling in your gut that your luggage has been lost.  Sure enough, my luggage did not arrive with me.   That meant forms to complete and more delays.  I was given an “overnight amenity” kit with standard sundries that included such items as a toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant and a thin white t-shirt.  I was verbally told I could spend $75 a day on clothes, given a form to record my purchases and told and that my suitcase would be sent to my first port-o-call, Tenerife, Canary Islands.  As my mother used to say “It is what it is.”

Transfer from the Barcelona airport to Hotel Flor Parks on La Ramblas was pre-paid

through Pick-n-Go.  I had not used this company before and will probably not use them again.  It took 20 minutes just to locate their van.  All my inquiries with local airport workers produced nothing but strange looks.  No one I spoke with was familiar with Pick ‘n Go.  Finally I spotted the van but the dark grey color with the dark red logo made it very difficult to see at night.   I finally left the airport at 8:30pm.  As I last glanced at the clock and closed my eyes it was 10:05pm.  It had been a long 36 hours since I began my trip from Tampa. 

A very pleasant surprise awaited me the following morning.  My luggage was located and delivered to my hotel.   After a wonderful and inexpensive fully cooked breakfast, for just under $8 USD, at Caféd’Opera I checked out of the hotel, hailed my taxi and made my way to the cruise dock.

Now for another good comment on the ship.  The check-in process was handled very efficiently and the line moved quickly, about 30 minutes from taxi drop off until I was sitting on my bed in the cabin.  I opted for an inside cabin #13072 on deck 13 close to mid-ship. 

Having been on close to 30 cruises I have experienced a wide variety of cabin layouts and for the most part, they are all pretty similar, except for the EPIC.  I would only have 1 word for the design – AWEFUL!   At 128 sq. ft. it rates as one of the smaller cabins afloat.  Strangely, the designer must have felt that a ‘traditional’ bathroom wasn’t needed.  This layout located the toilet on the left and shower on your right.  The problem - both toilet and shower were enclosed by a semi-circle of translucent glass, leaving little to no privacy.

Can also be configured as a Queen

Closet which proved to have adequate storage for two.

Shower stall with semi-circle glass door

As for the sink, it was extremely small and shallow and is located in the desktop area.  This allowed for water to spill over onto my laptop just by simply washing my hands.   

Sink and work area with Shower in the background

The next major problem with the room was the terrible lighting.  Luckily I had taken a 20-LED flashlight with me so I was able to strategically place it over the closet.  This provided enough light for me to put on my makeup.   As the days on board the EPIC passed I asked numerous passengers how they liked their room and without exception each one mentioned the poor lighting.  Be sure that you take a power strip with you as they only provide one (1) 110V power outlet and it is hidden underneath the desk area. 

Entertainment on the ship was not typical entertainment either.  I felt like I was in college trying to finalize my class schedule.   A typical ship offers 2 shows in their main theater consisting of one early show and one late show.  The EPIC functions differently.  You select the entertainment you want to watch each day by time and venue and then make reservations.  Just making my entertainment reservations for the 14-day cruise took 20 minutes and I found that I was constantly making changes.  Another positive comment – the chairs in the EPIC Theater were very comfortable and included drink holders.  

Epic Theater

The EPIC offers 2 formal dining rooms; TASTE and MANHATTAN.  The MANHATTAN is available for dinners only.  I prefer not to eat in the buffet, due to noise and congestion,  so most of my meals were in the TASTE dining room.  This room has very low ceilings, dark décore and very limited windows.   

Taste Dining Room

Taste Dining Room from the Floor above

Taste Dining Room

Taste Dining Room

When you enter the dining room you will present your cabin key card.   I always opted to “share a table”.  Positive comment - you meet very interesting people by sharing a table.   

Manhattan Dining Room Sample Menu

The itinerary for my Westbound TransAtlantic included only 2 ports – Tenerife in the Canary Islands and San Juan, Puerto Rico.   All remaining days were sea days, my favorite.   (photo of cruise map)

Norwegian Epic TransAtlantic Cruise Map

Three times within the first 8 days I found myself locked out of the cabin.  The first two times security changed batteries in the door but by the third time a total replacement was required.   

On two separate occasions the phone MESSAGE light was blinking however, when trying to recover the message it would simply say “Your message has been deleted”. Guest Services were unable to trace the message and I was told that they were having phone problems throughout the ship.  This was a major problem as the deleted messages caused me to miss two separate dinner engagements. 

On a final positive note, even though I do not care to cruise on the EPIC again, I am booked on an Eastbound TransAtlantic cruise on the Norwegian Jade for April 30, 2017. 


#Norwegian Epic

SAN ANTONIO – RIVERWALK AND THE ALAMO

As my plane bounced down the runway I glanced at my smartphone as it brightly glowed 8:11pm.   After three flights on two different airlines, and a total of 15 hours, I had finally arrived at San Antonio airport. 

First stop-Hertz rental counter.  A check for rates the week prior at www.kayak.com brought up prices around $200 a week for an economy car.   After several unsuccessful bids at www.priceline.com I finally managed to secure a mid-size Toyota Corolla at Hertz for $156.45 including all taxes and fees.  All rental car companies are located off-site so you need to exit baggage claim and look for the SHUTTLE VANS sign which are located in the center isle.  I waited about 15 minutes before the Hertz shuttle arrived.  The drive to the off-site location took 8 minutes.  A driver’s license was all that was required to exit their lot.  My hotel was the Hampton Inn & Suites at 411 S Flores Street.  Siri confirmed that it was 10 miles from the airport and she guided me down I-35 South, arriving at the hotel in a short 15 minutes.

The Hampton Inn & Suites proved to be a great location.  The property offers FREE parking, FREE Wi-Fi and FREE full American breakfast which included waffles, eggs, ham, hash browns, toast, bagels, muffins, cereal, fruit and much more. Better yet, it was located less than a five-minute walk to the Westin Riverwalk and half the price.     

Riverwalk is often described as the “American Venice”.  A pedestrian street featuring a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, it’s a place where you can find a plethora of bars, shops and restaurants, as well as experience the sights, sounds and flavors of Native America, Old Mexico and the Wild West all blended together. Make sure you set aside time to take the guided boat trip.  

Perhaps the most important historical landmark and most visited site in all of San Antonio, with over 2.5 million visitors annually, is the Alamo.

Before you visit the Alamo, I would suggest that you first head over to AMC Rivercenter 11, located at 849 E Commerce Street, and enjoy “ALAMO, The Price of Freedom”, playing on the giant IMAX screen.  This is a tribute to the 189 Texans, Tejanos and settlers who defended the Alamo for 13 days against the Mexican Army under General Santa Ana.   The show runs 48 minutes and will help you understand the strength, courage and American spirit of those that fought for Texas independence and created the battle cry for generations of American’s, “Remember the Alamo”.

Another fun activity is the Hop On Hop Off double decker bus, offering eighteen stops, including Pearl Brewery, Texas Ranger Museum, Riverwalk and the Alamo.  Stop 1 is located at the Visitor Center next to the Menger Hotel.  The buses begin at 9:00am and depart every 20 minutes.  It takes about an hour to make the complete loop if you don't get off.  Once you get off, another bus will come by every 20 minutes.  Keep track of your time because the last bus leaves stop #1 at 5:30pm. I purchased tickets through Groupon but be sure to read the fine print, as there are several black out dates. Offering several different package options, Viator offers several viable options. 

If you get off at Market Square, El Mercado (stop #13) be sure to check out Mi Tierra Restaurant and Bakery.  Started in 1941 by Pete and Cruz Cortez with a small three-table café,  it now remains open 24 hours a day and can accommodate 500, offering traditional Tex-Mex dishes.  Decorated with Christmas lights year round, Mi Tierra is truly a world famous landmark. 

All photos by Tamie Richardson

LAKE SHASTA HOUSEBOAT EXPERIENCE

My watch displayed the time as 8:47pm but it was still light outside.  With wine in hand I managed to climb the steep ladder to the top deck of our houseboat without spilling a drop.  There before me was an inviting hot tub.  As I lowered myself down into the bubbling hot water I began listening to the sounds of the night and watching osprey hover 30-100 feet above the water line, searching endlessly for fish for their young.  As I slowly turned my body in a 360 degree circle, my senses simply absorbed the beautiful wilderness that surrounded me.  With no city lights to impede the stars above, one of the best shows was the sporadic twinkling lights reflecting in the water below.  Truly nature at it’s best. Sitting there in the hot tub, wine in hand, anchored on a small little island in a secluded cove up the Squaw Creek Arm of Lake Shasta, I almost felt I had to pinch myself.  How did I get here?

Our "Odyssey" Houseboat from Jones Valley Marina at Lake Shasta

From top deck

Hanging out at the hot tub

Mooring at our private island

Hot tub

Sunrise on our private island

It was early 2015 while listening to the annual KLDR radio auction that a 7-day “Odyssey” houseboat rental at Lake Shasta was offered.   After the announcer mentioned that the houseboat had a water slide, hot tub and would sleep 15,  I decided to place a bid.  At the end of the 1-hour bidding window I received a phone call advising that I was the winning bidder.   My immediate thought was “What have I done?”

Lake Shasta is a reservoir located in Shasta County, California, about 10 miles from Redding, California.  Shasta Dam was constructed between 1935 and 1945 and the lake was formed in 1948.  The dam stands 602 feet high and is the 8^th tallest dam in the United States.  The lake has 365 miles of mostly steep mountainous shoreline covered with tall evergreen trees and manzanita and has a maximum depth of 517 feet.

First came the task of setting menus and a food list.   Once that was done I then went about drafting my packing list.  I embellished the list that was found on the houseboat rental website and ended up taking way more clothes than needed.  Bring plenty of hats, bathing suits, and towels, and leave the cute little matching outfits at home.  And that makeup you think is a must - you won’t need that either.

Floating with our little yorkies

Water slide off top deck.  Inflatable kayaks come in handy.

Our Yorkies in doggie jail on the top deck.

The weekly cost for the “Odyssey” listed as $5,890 for peak season (June 17-August 11), however, my rental agreement listed $6,427.  This is not your total cost however.  We had to put down a $700 deposit that was to be credited back if everything was returned in good condition.  In addition you will pay for your gas charges.  Gas is used to run the engine and also the generator so depending on how long you leave the generator running daily, this will affect your fuel consumption considerably.  We used 124.59 gallons at a cost of $4.199 per gallon so that amounted to another $523.16.   Add another $400 for food/beverages and this will make your week somewhere between $6,500-$7,500.  Certainly an expensive week and I’m not sure I would do it again but as for a family bonding adventure – PRICELESS!

An online map directed us to the Jones Valley Marina, where our “Odyssey” houseboat was moored.  Picking up our houseboat was part excitement and part trepidation.  Excitement because our houseboat was decked out with a water slide, a wet bar and a hot tub that seated six.  Trepidation because it was extremely large and looked very difficult to drive.

Online map to Jones Valley Marina

When you arrive at the Marina you will be met by Bob who will give you a temporary parking pass and then shuttle you down to the office and check-in area.  Once you have completed that process you will be greeted by the QUAD SQUAD.  Large green buckets pulled by a quad bike take you back up the hill and help load all your equipment.  The entire staff at the Marina were cheerful and accommodating and more than willing to assist with both the loading and unloading process.  In addition, they assured us that piloting the houseboat would not be difficult.  Be sure you have at least two or three adults listen to the pre-launch orientation.  It’s a lot of information to absorb so the more brains the better.   The orientation included the basics of starting, navigating and anchoring the boat but there were also instructions for operating the radio, generator, barbecue, toilets, hot tub, water slide, etc.

The week seemed to fly by quickly.  With sun and water being your entire focus be sure you take plenty of sunscreen.  Getting a severe sunburn early on will make the rest of your trip very unpleasant.  We didn’t have a power boat at our disposal so our days were spent playing in the water with our floating devices.   For myself I limited my water time to no more than an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. 

Other than floating or kayaking in the water, our time was spent watching for wildlife, videos, playing games, craft projects with the young ones, soaking in the hot tub, rock skipping contests and roasting hot dogs over our bonfire at night.  We did spot osprey, eagles, lots of fish, deer, turtles and even a couple of snakes.  The rest of the time was used to relax, read, sleep or just ‘chill’ and take in the surrounding beauty.  

Rock Skipping Contest

 

Evning around the campfire

Roasting of hot dogs over the campfire

For more information about houseboat rentals on Lake Shasta check out houseboats.com website.   http://houseboats.com/

A DAY AT MONTSERRAT MONASTERY IN SPAIN

Montserrat means “The Serrated Mountain” and is home to Catalonia’s most important religious retreat.  Located 30 miles and about an hour northwest of Barcelona by train, the beauty of the area is, in one word, stunning.   Anyone in the Barcelona area will want to take time to explore this gem.  Located 4,055 feet above the valley floor, on a clear day even the island of Mallorca is visible. 

View from the gondola ride

You will find a myriad of various tickets available for your Montserrat experience but my suggestion would be to purchase the ToT Montserrat ticket. I purchased ours online for $46.20 Euros per person.  This is just a little over $50 USD but here is what is included:

• Train from Barcelona to Montserrat
• Cable car OR track railway to the top (I would recommend the Cable Car)
• Unlimited buffet lunch including some typical Catalan dishes along with wine and beer
• Admission to the Museu de Montserrat
• Admission to the Audiovisual Gallery (video is about 7 minutes in length)
• Unlimited use of the Sant Joan and Santa Cova funiculars
• Cable car OR track railway to the bottom
• Return train trip from Montserrat to Barcelona

You will certainly find plenty to explore at Montserrat, including a visit into the Basilica for viewing of the Black Virgin, the Patron Saint of Catalonia.  Legend has it that the statute  was moved to Montserrat around 718 to avoid danger by invading Saracens. In 880AD some shepherd children claimed they saw a bright light and heard angels singing in the Montserrat mountains.  The children later brought their parents to the location and they witnessed the same.  Believing that the visions were a sign from God, the community elders were then brought to the site to explore the cave where the vision occurred.  This was the genesis of the Montserrat legend and the Black Virgin.

Our day to Montserrat began at 8:10am.  We left our apartment and hopped on the Metro to the Plaza Espanya stop.  Depending upon your departure time, the trains to Montserrat depart from either track 3 and 4.  Here’s a link to help plan yourtrip.  

We had planned on taking an 8:55am train but when we arrived we discovered that the 8:55am train wasn’t operating that day.  No problem.  Trains operate frequently so we took the escalator upstairs to enjoy a morning cup of coffee and waited for the 9:36am departure.  The train will take 1 hour and the cable car ride to the top is 3 ½ minutes.   Because there is only 1 car operating in each direction, the wait can be extensive.  Our wait was just over 1 hour.  

Cable car at Montserrat

Cable car platform at top of Montserrat

When you finally arrive at the top you will want to go to the information center and pick up a map to help you navigate around the complex.  Because we arrived at the top at about 11:45am, we opted to have our lunch before touring the site to avoid lunch crowds. The restaurant for the self-serve buffet is location #7 on your map.    

The doors to the buffet opened promptly at 12:00 noon and the experience was WONDERFUL.   Salads, pastas, hot entrees, desserts and drink stations abound and it made me feel like I was back on our cruise ship.  The restaurant clings to the side of one of the cliffs with very large windows that afford spectacular views of the valley below.  The cost for this unlimited buffet is normally $15.50 Euros, about $17 USD, but is included with your ToT Montserrat ticket.  

Once you have arrived at Montserrat Monastery, you also have the option of taking two more funicular rides: the Funicular de Santa Cova and the Funicular de Sant Joan. I would allow a minimum of about 3 hours for your meal, touring the complex and taking at least 1 of the funicular rides.   We took the ride to Sant Joan.  It runs about every 20 minutes and the ride takes 7 minutes.  With a grade of 65%, this is the steepest in Spain, taking you to the very top of the mountain peaks.  From here you can enjoy the views of the Monastery and the valley below.  You can also take a variety of walks from here. 

Funicular car to Sant Joan, the highest point

Tracks to San Joan - steepest in Spain

You should make it a point to go to the audiovisual building and watch the short 7 minute film about the development of the mountain.  They offer this in several languages so you will want to check the time slots for your language.  We headed back down the mountain at 3:30pm and boarded the 4:00pm train back to Barcelona.  By the time we took the Metro back to our stop, we stepped through our apartment door at 5:30pm bringing to an end a another wonderful and interesting day.

Entrance to the Basilica

Inside the Basilica

Black Virgin of Montserrat

BASCILICA DE LA SAGRADA FAMILIA IN BARCELONA, SPAIN

Docking in Barcelona came early.  We left our cabin for the last time at 7:30am and made our way to the Atrium to join fellow cruisers Joy and Jon Jackson and waited for the announcements of disembarkation times.  We would be sharing a 3-bedroom apartment with the Jacksons so felt it better to remain together until we were settled into the apartment for our 3 night stay.   Our luggage tag color was GREY and our scheduled time to disembark was 8:15am.

Our color was called at 8:20am.  After collecting our luggage and exiting the terminal, we boarded the T3 Pier Bus a/k/a “The Blue Bus” which would transport us off the pier and drop us at the Christopher Columbus Statute located at the bottom of Las Ramblas.  The cost is  $2 Euros per person and must be paid in cash when you board the bus.  

Christopher Columbus Statute

Once we arrived at the Christopher Columbus Statute we went underground to the Tourist Information Center.  Here we were able to pick up mapes, our Barcelona 3-day transportation passes, our Monserrat tickets and also our admission tickets to Bascilica de la Sagrada Familia.  From here it was just a short walk to the Drassanas metro station where we boarded the train to the Monumental station, just 1 block from our apartment.

We found our arrival too early for check in but we were able to leave our luggage with an attendant.  This allowed us to do some walking around the immediate area.  Marci and I ended our walk at a local sidewalk café that overlooked the Sagrada Familia.  We decided to take a short break and enjoy some of the local beer while the Jacksons continued on.  My cellphone battery had died so after enjoying a local beer we took the Metro back to our apartment to retrieve my power pack.  Then it was back to the sidewalk café for pizza and beer, spending about 40 minutes eating, drinking and people watching, all the while overlooking the magnificent Sagrada Familia and adjacent park. 

Our Barcelona card included bus transportation so we decided to hop on one of the local buses for an adventure ride.  A bus stop was conveniently located right across the street from our little café.  The first bus that stopped was bus H10.  We decided we should hop on and after riding it to the end of the line we then crossed the street and jumped onto bus 75, taking it as far back as the Barcelona University stop.    

We spent time just walking by the University campus and enjoying the beautiful weather before we headed back down to the metro and made our way back to the Sagrada Familia stop to meet up with the Jacksons for our 3:45pm entrance time. 

The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi.  Construction commenced in 1882 and Gaudi became involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming it to his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and Art Nouveau. At the time of Gaudi’s death at age 73 in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.  Construction was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War and progresses slowly as it has to rely on private donations. 

An organ was installed in 2010 allowing the unfinished building to be used for religious services.  The instrument has 26 stops (1,492 pipes) on two manuals and a pedalboard.  Because of the unique acoustical challenges, additional organs are installed at various points within the building.  These organs can be played separately or simultaneously, from a single console yielding an organ of some 8,000 pipes.  The church was consecrated on November 7, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI in front of a congregation of 6,500 with another 50,000 outside the basilica. 

Organ pipes

Organ pipes

Gaudi’s original design called for eighteen spires, representing in ascending order the height of the twelve apostles, the Virgin Mary, the four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and tallest of all, Jesus Christ.  The completion of the spires will make the structure the tallest church building in the world. 

The church has 3 facades.  The Nativity façade to the East, the Passion façade to the West, and the Glory façade to the South.    The Nativity façade is dedicated to the birth of Jesus and is decorated with scenes and images from nature.  The Passion façade is plain and simple and carved with straight lines, resembling the bones of a skeleton and dedicated to the Passion of Christ.  This façade is to portray the sins of man.  The Glory façade, under construction since 2002, is the largest and most striking of the facades.  It represents the road to God:  Death, Final Judgment and Glory.  This year the cathedral will draw more than 2.5 million visitors.  Here’s a short 1minute video.  

It's hard to capture the beauty of this building, especially how the light changes like the colors of the rainbow.  Here's a few photos just to give you the feel of the majesty of it. 

Looking Up