kerrytens

I think that the Studio Lounge/"Living Room" is a good concept, but poorly executed. If they can only have an entertainment director there during one hour of the day, I think that it should be the hour listed in the Freestyle Daily. Viviany made her own hours which were different than the Freestyle's. Also, the point was brought up on this trip that the events are public and listed in the Daily, however they are hosted in a private lounge. We had one lady who was traveling solo, but in a balcony cabin. She had requested that guest services give her access to the solo lounge, but they said it was a special perk of guests staying in the studios. However, guests staying in the studios weren't necessarily solo travelers. If not facilitating interaction between solo travelers, is the Living Room really serving its purpose? I think that meetings for solo travelers should either be held in public locations or solo travelers should be granted access to the Living Room upon request. After all, they are paying more money for a balcony stateroom.

 

 

So fly with me to Rome and meet my family - because we have another EPIC adventure! :)

Wow, that is disappointing to read. It certainly has changed from my trip last year when I was allowed access to the lounge.

Sorry that you had such issues with your entertainment person too. It really makes a huge difference when you have someone great doing that job - Sol was on our trip. She was fabulous.

Great review though. I really enjoyed following along and looking at your great photos. Thanks for taking the time to post it.

Awww thanks! That's nice of you. :D I just wish that I had all of the video up right now, but we're working on it!

Goodness you are miles ahead of me after returning from a cruise. I'm usually exhausted for a good few days after it's over.

I'm looking forward to the videos.

As you are already aware, I'm a huge fan of your reviews. I'm loving this one already.

Can't wait for more:D

Welcome back Gambee. Great start to the review. I'm looking forward to following along.

Great review! I'm really enjoying it ... now to go and check out your 7 day family one too:D

Cool beans. I'll write up a couple of thoughts on things you might be interested in seeing. It might take me a bit to post it because we're getting ready to cruise, but I'll note it here, or if you want to drop me a line (info below) I'll email it to you. I'll also post some Barcelona photos here as soon as I can as well. :)

Just pm'd you based on your info below:D

Have a great cruise!!!!

Oh I'm super excited for you! Let me know if you'd like any thoughts on Barcelona in the future. I'm not an expert on the city, but it was my my third trip there, and I really do like it. It's quite beautiful!

 

You're going to have a spectacular time on the TA and off!

I'd love your thoughts on Barcelona!!!

It's like being a kid in the sense that's there's only so much you can do about anything happening on shore. You can only let go and let live, and after about 2 days that seriously kicks in.

 

Well after waking up at 2pm :D Okay sometimes it was more like 10:30am I'd meet my friend for his lunch/my breakfast and the rest of the day would be spent lounging out in Posh, or carrying on like 6 year olds on the waterslides then warming up in the Jacuzzzi. Some drinks if there was a tasting or even better trivia. I don't think I realized how much I like trivia until this trip. With a good group it's a lot of fun.

 

By the evening it would be time to meet folks for dinner, then the real fun began! Afterward it was a show, or Howl at the Moon and/or Fat Cats and then dancing for about 4 or 5 hours and then Shenanigans for a few hours. To be followed up by sleeping in the next day.

 

So the rhythm was relax - have a ton of fun - relax - have a ton of fun, rinse and repeat for 11 days. Can't beat it! :D I'm really looking forward to doing it again. I hear that it's even warmer in October, so that means more time on the water slides. Hooray!

Heaven!!!!! Pure Heaven:D Sounds absolutely perfect to me.

This will be my first trip to Europe too so I'm looking forward to my time in Barcelona as well.

Happy to hear that the temperatures are warmer in October too!

 

Green tea cake. One of my top 10 favorite desserts on the ship. I wish that it was available in the MDR.

 

 

Photos hosted by Flickr.

Yum!!! That was by far my favourite dessert on the Epic.

You're going to love those days of being able to lay out in the sun or running around like a kid. When I came back someone asked me if I'd cut my hair or done something different. I told her I'd just been on a relaxing transatlantic cruise vacation! That'll do it!

Oh, tell me more:D

Super excited about the TA even more now!

Thank you! I'll be adding a some more tomorrow. I'll still sorting them, I forget how long it takes to re-size and sort when I'm busy clicking away. lol :D

 

I look forward to hear how you'll enjoy the TA. It's a truly relaxing experience I think that you'll love it!

 

!

Glad to hear that there will be more photos!!! Take your time, I have 500++ days to go until my TA:D

I'm looking forward my days of relaxation onboard the ship!

I'm enjoying your review Xena. I'm booked on the 2014 westbound TA on the Epic (first TA!) and can't wait. I adore the ship as my 3 trips in a row will attest to:D

I do hope that there are more photos coming. Keep up the great work!

 

Yeah I can't sugar coat it - it's small. I like spending a lot of time on the balcony. We had the chairs turned sideways because they had to be.

 

The balcony really unnerved me because of how narrow it was.

Hmmmh, interesting to read because that is exactly what I'd been thinking to myself when viewing some of the balcony shots. I'm not sure how I'd feel shimming along the balcony railing in order to sit down.

I'd be doubly nervous if my daughter was out there with me too.

Those aft mini suites are sure looking good now:D

We will see how that goes, I been warned about Carnival by many, but honestly I think the Breeze will be a great cruise :).

I think you'll have a great time onboard the Breeze. I've read many reviews of the ship and she seems well liked. Enjoy both of your upcoming cruises, btw. I'm looking forward to reading BOTH reviews:D

Thanks for the info and photos of the kid's area, Michele.

The ship looks beautiful.

Thanks for the review Michele. I always love your threads :)

Did you bring the girls?

If you look on the sqft of the Breakaway cabins vs Getaway cabins the sqft is different by 10sqft on average. Now is this a typo? I don't know. Wonder where the extra sq footage is going.

 

For example,

Mid-ship Balcony on Breakaway=204sq ft

Mid-Ship Balcony on Getaway=226sqft

 

Source:

Getaway

 

http://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/GETAWAY/staterooms/2/balcony#tab_detail

 

Breakaway

http://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/breakaway/staterooms/2/balcony#tab_detail

Now, that is an interesting find.

I'd like to read it if you come across it again :)

I'll try to find it ... tomorrow:D

Where did anyone see info about the Getaway balconies being different? I, for one, doubt it. It was being built to the same design long before Breakaway floated out. I suspect the balconies are exactly the same.

I read it somewhere actually but for the life of me, I can't find the link now. I'll have to do more research. I would not rule it out and I would not just assume that they will be carbon copies of each other too.

I am really hoping that they make them larger on the Getaway.

I do have to admit that I am secretly hoping for the same thing Gambee:D

I'm wondering if the balcony size is in relation to the itinerary itself though with this ship. It makes sense to me to 'shrink' a balcony for a ship sailing out of NYC that will sail to Bermuda, afterall you are docked for many days once there. Or to Bahamas in the winter ... I know I wouldn't be spending anytime out there in January until we at least made it to Florida.

 

The balcony is probably 6 inches shallower than other ships. I can't FATHOM that someone would avoid this great ship because of that. However, if it's that important to you, have at it. There are plenty of other ships on the sea.

 

Reminds me of the great Epic bathroom controversy

 

:/

And once again Mike says what most of us are thinking;) So very true, sir.

Although I doubt I'll ever sail on the Breakaway, I do plan on booking the Getaway. I'd like a deeper balcony but I don't see the size being the deal breaker for me.

As for the 'great Epic bathroom controversy' ... those were fun days:D

Here is a video of the suite. Am I the only one that thinks they are amazing?

I'm with you David. I think the room is pretty cool. I actually loved that angled window in the bedroom area. I'd probably sit on the dresser looking out. LOL! OK, the balcony is a bit small but it's totally usable imho.

Count me in too (request sent). I fully intend on following you here and on fb.

Sadly, other commitments are going to prevent any further cruising this year so our next one is not going to happen until April or May of next year.:eek: Finally, my visit to Tahiti - either on Celebrity's Soltice or on Princess.

 

Jack

No worries Jack, your reviews are worth waiting for!

Might I suggest Princess for you for your Tahiti cruise - perhaps this time you could outsmart the waiters in Sabatinis;):D

It's always a good day when I wake up and this thread has been resurrected. Like the swallows to Capistrano, like the miracle of Easter...

 

And someone's sneakin' round the corner...

So well said. LOL!!! I love a good Sailor Jack review and this is one of his best for sure.

Thanks for popping in again too Jack. Anything planned that we should look forward to (I forgot to check your signature:o )