Second time around on the Epic........good choice! :)

Hi all, finally back from our holidays and thought I'd do a write-up about our second time around on the Epic.

A little background......it's only myself and DH who holiday now. Our DD is at Uni and is not too keen on the heat, so a Western Med cruise in the heat of August is not for her! It almost proved to be the breaking of ME this year.......my user-name reflects my capacity for heat...as well as my age! ;)

We flew into Barcelona the day before our Epic trip and stayed at the H10 Montcada, a lovely hotel, albeit with fairly small rooms.

I'd booked it particularly for its gorgeous rooftop bar, but sadly we never got to appreciate it as it rained the whole early evening and the hotel closed it off!! Still we enjoyed our stay there regardless.

Up bright and early the next day, we took a taxi to the Port and I was once again overawed by the sheer size of the Epic. It never ceases to amaze me that these HUGE beasts can actually sail the seas!

Boarding was fast.....less than 20 minutes from handing in our luggage!

I think we arrived about 11:30am.

We decided to take a look in the duty-free shop to look at wine. Now normally I order a bottle of white and a bottle of red for us to be in the cabin on arrival.....just a nice treat and a habit I've got into. Well this time I refused!! I'm no cheapskate, but the wine I usually buy had gone up $10 a bottle from last year! :eek:

Anyhow, nothing appealed to us in the duty-free shop and as we MAY have had to pay corkage on top, it wasn't too cheap either! As it happens, we saw nowhere to pay corkage after the shop, so we could have carried wine on without additional cost! Luck of the draw!

We went to O'Sheehans for lunch. It was nice and chilled, not too busy.

Next job........order a wine package. This is normally quick and painless....not today! Bless him, the guy taking out order was new and it took him an age to write out 8 slips! His colleague noticed it was taking a while and when he checked, it was because he was putting too much info on the slips! Not a problem (or so we thought!) we had plenty of time!

Once wine package was sorted, we wandered the ship and realised we could remember mostly where everything was, so it wasn't that feeling of "help, I'm lost" which was rather nice!

Cabins were announced ready and off we went. Surprised to see our suitcases already outside the cabin.......yay, I can settle in quickly!

We had a mid-ship balcony on deck 12 with the bed by the balcony. Last trip we were fortunate to be allocated an aft balcony which also happened to be an accessible cabin, so this time we noticed the difference, not only with space, but of course, the much talked about bathroom situation!

It didn't bother us one jot, but I can see how it would bother some......there's sure not a lot of privacy!

Once settled, we headed off to Muster drill, which was painless enough, apart from a group of young children who insisted on playing drums with the cup-holder thingys on the card table! ( We were mustered near Fat Cats and the Casino)

Back to the cabin for sailaway and found we had been treated to a bottle of Prosecco and chocolate covered strawberries by some friends! Lovely start!

Tonight we had booked Cirque Dinner and even though we had seen it on our previous trip, I was still mesmerised the whole way through....it's just amazing! Dinner was good too, although, as last time, I found it a bit of a distraction!

Afterwards we headed to O'Sheehans to retrieve a couple of our bottles of wine. My white wasn't a problem. DH's red on the other hand WAS! The very obliging bartender went off to get the wine and came back and said DH's wine was not available and hadn't been for a couple of weeks.......I forget which is was, a Rioja, I think. Well he wasn't best pleased as it's one of his faves, but the bartender recommended another and gave him a glass to try before he opened the bottle. DH said it wasn't as good, but what could he do? Hey ho! More on this later!

Headed to Howl at the Moon, as we had never made it last trip....it was fun!

Finally a trip to the casino and our first day was done!

As I'm still unpacking and washing and ironing, I'll get back to you all as soon as I can! In the meantime......a few photos!

DSCN5217 by smilinglady, on Flickr

Epic docked at Barcelona

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View of Barcelona from our cabin

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Mid-ship balcony cabin

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Balcony and view

Thanks for your review! We sailed the Epic for the second time earlier this year and had just as great of a trip as on our first sailing! Glad you made a good choice, and looking forward to the rest of your review and pictures. :)

Thanks for your review! We sailed the Epic for the second time earlier this year and had just as great of a trip as on our first sailing! Glad you made a good choice, and looking forward to the rest of your review and pictures. :)

Thanks for reading along! Glad you enjoyed your second trip too! I love the Epic!

I'll try and not be too long in continuing this review! :o

We were awake early, around 7:15am, but just chilled on the balcony for a while before heading to the Garden Café for breakfast. It was crowded, as to be expected. But we managed. Then began the hunt for a bed!

We ended up on Deck 18 at the front, but didn't last too long......it was SO hot....I was meltingmoments!

Today was a day to chill and relax. We had lunch, we wandered, we stopped for a drink, we wandered some more and we came across a member of staff selling the Viva Vino package that we had bought yesterday. DH stopped to chat to her about not being able to get the red he had ordered. She looked bemused by this and asked to see his slips and double checked which wine he had ordered. The wine that was WRITTEN on the slip was NOT on board........but the wine he had ORDERED ......WAS! The crew member was VERY apologetic and took DH's slips from him and gave him 4 more with the CORRECT wine on. Now being honest people, we told her we already had one bottle of red in replacement for the one that hadn't been available, but she just shook her head and said "no problem...our mistake" So DH ended up with an extra bottle of wine!

Boarding the Epic for the first time September 6th so enjoying your review.

We were awake early, around 7:15am, but just chilled on the balcony for a while before heading to the Garden Café for breakfast. It was crowded, as to be expected. But we managed. Then began the hunt for a bed!

We ended up on Deck 18 at the front, but didn't last too long......it was SO hot....I was meltingmoments!

 

Today was a day to chill and relax. We had lunch, we wandered, we stopped for a drink, we wandered some more and we came across a member of staff selling the Viva Vino package that we had bought yesterday. DH stopped to chat to her about not being able to get the red he had ordered. She looked bemused by this and asked to see his slips and double checked which wine he had ordered. The wine that was WRITTEN on the slip was NOT on board........but the wine he had ORDERED ......WAS! The crew member was VERY apologetic and took DH's slips from him and gave him 4 more with the CORRECT wine on. Now being honest people, we told her we already had one bottle of red in replacement for the one that hadn't been available, but she just shook her head and said "no problem...our mistake" So DH ended up with an extra bottle of wine!

Nice - We just got off EPIC but oh is it in need of dry dock but loved it. The ship and crew are wonderful and we had the best time after what has been an awful year.

Enjoying your review :) & I'm glad that they appropriately sorted out your wine situation. I love the Epic & look forward to being back on board this coming February :D

Enjoying ur review looking forward to reading more 93 days till my epic trip [emoji3] x

Nice - We just got off EPIC but oh is it in need of dry dock but loved it. The ship and crew are wonderful and we had the best time after what has been an awful year.

Did you really think it was in need of dry dock? I'm not a very experienced cruiser, I can't say we noticed any glaring signs of wear and tear, but maybe that was the extra bottle of wine? ;)

I agree that the crew are wonderful.......and I'm sorry you had an awful year but glad you had a great time. :)

Enjoying your review :) & I'm glad that they appropriately sorted out your wine situation. I love the Epic & look forward to being back on board this coming February :D

Glad to have you along for the read! :)

We appreciated the sorting out of our wine situation and the way it was dealt with.

Enjoy your cruise when February comes along.

Enjoying ur review looking forward to reading more 93 days till my epic trip [emoji3] x

Glad you're enjoying....I promise there's more! :)

93 days will pass by quickly!

Boarding the Epic for the first time September 6th so enjoying your review.

Have an amazing time....we did! :)

Well our chilled out day continued with a lovely meal at Cagneys that evening.....I SOOOOO love those truffle fries and the Oreo cheesecake! :)

Entertainment this evening was in the form of The Supreme Dream Girls in Headliners. They are a Motown tribute band and really got the crowd going. Sadly they were only on for 45 minutes and that was a real shame because everyone was thoroughly enjoying them!

We ended our evening as always, with a quick trip to the casino then an early night as we had a busy day ahead tomorrow!

DSCN5159 by smilinglady, on Flickr

Greeted by this little creature this evening! :)

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Sea day crowds!

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So we were awake early this morning. We had to be in the Epic Theatre for 7:45 am for our coach to Sorrento.

We still don't feel confident enough to do trips ourselves so we bite the bullet and use NCL's excursions. This one was Leisurely Sorrento. Our tour guide was a real gem today......Eva, if I remember correctly! She kept us entertained all the way to Sorrento and made us smile even though it was raining!! :eek: This trip was basically just transport to and from Sorrento and suited us perfectly. As we got off in Sorrento we were given a voucher for either soft drinks or gelato in a local café close to drop-off and pick-up point. We were meant to follow the tour guide into a near-by shop to hear all about how some of the local pottery is made........we ran off like naughty school children and began our wanderings!

The rain gave up shortly after we arrived and we enjoyed our time spent in Sorrento, but could have done with longer.

We made our way back to the café near the meeting point and used our vouchers for drinks and gelato.......yummy......AND they came with free nibbles! Always a bonus!

Sadly, when our tour guide counted up her *family* ( as she called us)......she was missing one! We had to walk from the meeting point to a nearby coach parking area as Sorrento centre struggles to accommodate all the coaches so the poor guide had to go BACK to the meeting point to look for the straggler! Fortunately she wasn't too long, as people were getting restless!!

DSCN5119 by smilinglady, on Flickr

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Some snaps of our day in Sorrento

Did you really think it was in need of dry dock? I'm not a very experienced cruiser, I can't say we noticed any glaring signs of wear and tear, but maybe that was the extra bottle of wine? ;)

I was on the Epic sailing from Barcelona on 9th August and I didn't think it was in need of a dry dock either but it was only my 2nd cruise.

Enjoying your review, brings back memories from our cruise. Judging by your Sorrento pics I am guessing you were on the same cruise.

I was on the Epic sailing from Barcelona on 9th August and I didn't think it was in need of a dry dock either but it was only my 2nd cruise.

 

Enjoying your review, brings back memories from our cruise. Judging by your Sorrento pics I am guessing you were on the same cruise.

Oh my!! We sailed from Barcelona on the 9th August too! But we continued our holidays a little further up the coast from Barcelona afterwards.......hence my only starting my review now! Small world, hey?

Starting off as a good review - I'm looking forward to the rest! I'll be doing this trip in November.

On the Epic in Jan for our first cruise so I'm enjoying your review! :)

We were tired after our early start so grabbed a bite to eat from the buffet and took it back to our cabin and ate on the balcony, watching Naples go by!

We went to O'Sheehans for a drink........the bartender already knew our names and always remembered I liked a drop of lemonade in my wine......good man! :)

We watched "Sing if you know it" from our viewing point in O'Sheehans and found it very amusing. There's a whole bunch of people waiting for the band to start playing a tune and the first person to start singing it correctly gets points. They also get points for their enthusiasm and dancing.....good fun!

We ate in O'Sheehans tonight as well and enjoyed it. Didn't feel like a huge meal and just enjoyed the informality of that place.

We then went to Fat Cats to watch the Beatles tribute band. Now these guys were excellent........we spent a good few nights in here singing and dancing away!

A little casino visit and another glass of wine on our balcony and another day was done!

DSCN5133 by smilinglady, on Flickr

DSCN5132 by smilinglady, on Flickr

Starting off as a good review - I'm looking forward to the rest! I'll be doing this trip in November.

Thank-you! I promise I'll have it finished before you go in November!! ;)

On the Epic in Jan for our first cruise so I'm enjoying your review! :)

Oh there's something very special about that first cruise.......I hope you love the Epic!

Glad you're enjoying my review. :)

Did you really think it was in need of dry dock? I'm not a very experienced cruiser, I can't say we noticed any glaring signs of wear and tear, but maybe that was the extra bottle of wine? ;)

 

I agree that the crew are wonderful.......and I'm sorry you had an awful year but glad you had a great time. :)

Ok where do I start its not just wear and tear

Engines being replaced that's the cause of the shortened stops

On ours a pipe had broken loose on the balcony and that was a suite

I could type until midnight but hey it did not spoil my break. Just we saw here in the inaugural season and can see the changes.

Ok where do I start its not just wear and tear

 

Engines being replaced that's the cause of the shortened stops

 

Are you sure about this? As ALL the ships seem to have shorter port stops now, to conserve fuel. Its cheaper to sail slower than to stay in a place longer and steam ahead to the next one.

Well, besides a piece of chipped stateroom furniture, or some missing sun umbrella's at Posh I too didn't felt or saw a worn out ship when we sailed her last time.

Of course there might be some wear and tear if you really look for it. She's a great ship that many enjoy so no worries for any future cruisers before the dry dock. :D

Are you sure about this? As ALL the ships seem to have shorter port stops now, to conserve fuel. Its cheaper to sail slower than to stay in a place longer and steam ahead to the next one.

Well, besides a piece of chipped stateroom furniture, or some missing sun umbrella's at Posh I too didn't felt or saw a worn out ship when we sailed her last time.

 

Of course there might be some wear and tear if you really look for it. She's a great ship that many enjoy so no worries for any future cruisers before the dry dock. :D

Now then, I remember DH chatting to the Hotel Director (whose name escapes me right now!) and he talked about the conservation of fuel being a reason for shorter port stops!

And I agree with FreestyleNovice.......future cruisers before the dry dock have no worries at all about the Epic...she IS a great ship!

And I just remembered something else! We came back to our cabin one afternoon to a letter explaining that our balcony was going to be painted in the next couple of days and could we let Guest Services know if there was a particular time that would NOT be convenient. As we would be off ship most of the next 2 days, we didn't bother but did notice that the paintwork around the balcony rail had been freshened up and the rail itself had been newly varnished when we got back from a trip. (There was also a notice saying Wet Paint) Can't say that I'd noticed it needed doing! :o