Welcome back first Epic Caribbean cruisers!

[eroller]

 

As a matter of fact, other than the wait for the slides, they may have mastered the no crowds anywhere on this ship. I kept asking where is everyone. I am pretty sure our ship was full, but you would have never known it, by looking at the buffet, restaurants, hallways or elevators. Even the main theatre was never completely full. I guess there is so much happening around the ship, many are disbursed into different areas.

 

 

 

 

Nice review, and great to read so many positive comments. After reading so much negative, I was seriously considering canceling my EPIC cruise and booking something else.

 

The logistics (crowding, lines, etc) has always been my biggest concern with EPIC. So far the reports indicate it was not an issue which is wonderful to hear.

 

I do know your sailing was not sold out. NCL has put a capacity cap on these initial cruises, and even with the cap there were many cabin categories available for sale just days before your cruise.

 

Ernie

[coka]

We just arrived home from the EPIC.

 

What a fantastic journey. Wish I could have stayed just one more week to check everything out, as the ship is so big. No one posted, because we were all being amazed by the EPIC. Spent a week onboard, I never got to check out the ice skating area, or the bridge.

 

We stayed in a Aft Penthouse cabin 11321. Loved it. Some flaws in the cabin that will be fixed in the near future. Also, some changes from having a penthouse suite on other ships. Example... I had to get used to putting my key in the slot to turn my lights on. Some lights I found could be annoying at night while trying to sleep. Towards the end of the cruise I learned how to correct a few of my annoyances. I never really learned how to use the mood lighting in the cabin and the Lavazza was a but different then what I was used to. I had a adjoining cabin with a aft balcony. We left our adjoining door open for easy walk through. My balcony was large. We have two loungers, two chairs and a table out there and still could walk around a bit.

 

I found this ship was very conscientious of the where the younger folks were allowed to hang out. If they said no one under a certain age was allowed in a venue, (Spice H20) they meant it, and it was enforced. There was also a curfew aboard the ship, that seemed to work nicely. This is the first time I have taken a cruise I haven't seen a group of kids hanging out on the stairwells. They really did a good job with making fun areas on the ship for the kids to hang out, as so they didn't have to hang out in the elevators or stairwells.

 

As a matter of fact, other than the wait for the slides, they may have mastered the no crowds anywhere on this ship. I kept asking where is everyone. I am pretty sure our ship was full, but you would have never known it, by looking at the buffet, restaurants, hallways or elevators. Even the main theatre was never completely full. I guess there is so much happening around the ship, many are disbursed into different areas.

 

I loved my penthouse suite, but would love to try a Studio cabin on this ship. They were a nice size for one person as well as the living room area that seemed like it was a pretty cool spot to hang out in. I found myself to be drawn in by those cool blue lights in the studio hallway.

 

I am sure more people will be on that took this sailing and they will answer any questions.

 

It was a long travel day for most of the Cruise Critics that were on board the EPIC.

 

 

Thank you for posting your thoughts! Not that you have to answer now (hehehe), but can you elaborate on the lighting in cabin at night? What did you figure out by the end...? Also, if not sailing in a studio...but sailing solo...can you use the living room? I read other reviews stating the living room was not exclusive...and read a freestyle daily stating a solo get-together met up in the living room first.

Welcome back!

 

coka

[sjbdtz]

Thanks for the post. It's great to hear you had a fantastic time. I'm in a Spa Suite in November and very much looking forward to it. Tell me, is the Spa Stateroom Complex truly "key card" access as advertised? I know it wasn't on the crossing but thought maybe they worked this out by now? The Studios are supposed to be key card access too, but I know this hasn't been the case. Also, are you given another key card to access The Courtyard area? I'm curious how that worked? Did you enjoy eating at the Epic Club and Courtyard Grill in The Courtyard? How often did you make use of The Courtyard complex and was Posh fun at night? Sorry for all the questions!

 

Ernie

 

The stateroom complex will never be keycard only, because it's part of a hallway needed to get to the stairwell (emergency exit access, etc.). What they were doing the last couple of days on the TA was installing keycard readers on the changerooms to the spa itself. That's how they'll deal with this issue in the future.

 

I suspect that for the suites you'll just have an assigned locker for the duration...makes more sense than signing in/out. After the counter closed at 10pm, you could get into the spa area, but have no locked key. Luckily it was pretty-much empty, so not a huge problem.

 

 

 

Nice review, and great to read so many positive comments. After reading so much negative, I was seriously considering canceling my EPIC cruise and booking something else.

 

The logistics (crowding, lines, etc) has always been my biggest concern with EPIC. So far the reports indicate it was not an issue which is wonderful to hear.

 

I do know your sailing was not sold out. NCL has put a capacity cap on these initial cruises, and even with the cap there were many cabin categories available for sale just days before your cruise.

 

Ernie

 

Funny...when I say I had a great trip, I'm a cheerleader. When 20 other people say they had a great trip, you stop thinking of cancelling. :rolleyes:

[Sailaway Girl]

Originally Posted by pixiedustdawn "We stayed in a Aft Penthouse cabin 11321. Loved it. Some flaws in the cabin that will be fixed in the near future. Also, some changes from having a penthouse suite on other ships. Example... I had to get used to putting my key in the slot to turn my lights on. Some lights I found could be annoying at night while trying to sleep. Towards the end of the cruise I learned how to correct a few of my annoyances. I never really learned how to use the mood lighting in the cabin and the Lavazza was a but different then what I was used to. I had a adjoining cabin with a aft balcony. We left our adjoining door open for easy walk through. My balcony was large. We have two loungers, two chairs and a table out there and still could walk around a bit. "

 

Thank you for posting. I have the same suite 11321 in a few weeks and am happy you loved it. What were the flaws? How was the tub/shower? Was the butler/concierge service good? Were the loungers there or did you have to ask for them?

Rene

[RNPJN]

I just got back today from sailing on the Epic! It surpassed my expectations! I was anxious after reading these boards for the last few months. The boat is beautiful!!! The food was great. I especially liked the sushi bar and Moderno restaurant. Entertainment and the shows were great. In addition to Blue Man and the other big shows they had the newlywed gameshow and others nightly. There was also a comedian magician that performed nighlty in addition to second city, karyoki (sorry about the spelling) was held in the bliss lounge a few times as well. The service was excellent. I was in a spa suite. The balcony was very spacious, there were two chairs a good sized table and a lounge chair. The shower was very spacoius. I had no problems with the glass doors to the shower or toilet. There was also a curtain to close. The bed was comfortable. The butler Chris was great! I am looking forward to booking again, hopefully this January.

When could you access the spa was it 24 hours as orig stated?

[sjbdtz]

When could you access the spa was it 24 hours as orig stated?

 

 

It was, by the last day of the TA. They started installing the keycard access to the change rooms, on the 2nd-last day.

[eroller]

 

 

 

 

 

Funny...when I say I had a great trip, I'm a cheerleader. When 20 other people say they had a great trip, you stop thinking of cancelling. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

Yes, well the obvious difference being that these people did not feel the need to go into every and any post that stated something negative about EPIC and try to refute it. In other words, no hint of a personal agenda.

 

Ernie

[eroller]

The stateroom complex will never be keycard only, because it's part of a hallway needed to get to the stairwell (emergency exit access, etc.).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This has appeared to be the case from the very first day I saw the deck plan. I was wondering how NCL was going to make this area "key card access" as advertised? I guess it will never happen yet they continue to advertise as such. You would think it's something they would have thought through when they first began advertising these Spa cabins, and at the very least remove the verbiage stating these are private access cabins from their website.

 

Ernie

[mafig]

Originally Posted by pixiedustdawn "We stayed in a Aft Penthouse cabin 11321. Loved it. Some flaws in the cabin that will be fixed in the near future. Also, some changes from having a penthouse suite on other ships. Example... I had to get used to putting my key in the slot to turn my lights on. Some lights I found could be annoying at night while trying to sleep. Towards the end of the cruise I learned how to correct a few of my annoyances. I never really learned how to use the mood lighting in the cabin and the Lavazza was a but different then what I was used to. I had a adjoining cabin with a aft balcony. We left our adjoining door open for easy walk through. My balcony was large. We have two loungers, two chairs and a table out there and still could walk around a bit. "

 

Thank you for posting. I have the same suite 11321 in a few weeks and am happy you loved it. What were the flaws? How was the tub/shower? Was the butler/concierge service good? Were the loungers there or did you have to ask for them?

Rene

 

Regarding the balcony on the suite. I notice you said you had both the penthouse and the adjourning. If you take JUST the penthouse, how was the balcony size? Did it have loungers? Also, how was the soundproofing between the cabins?

[sjbdtz]

This has appeared to be the case from the very first day I saw the deck plan. I was wondering how NCL was going to make this area "key card access" as advertised? I guess it will never happen yet they continue to advertise as such. You would think it's something they would have thought through when they first began advertising these Spa cabins, and at the very least remove the verbiage stating these are private access cabins from their website.

 

Ernie

 

My impressions of NCL are that they have shipboard culture NAILED, but that their shoreside operations SUCK.

 

From customer service, to the website working (or not), to the wording on the website, to missed marketing opportunities, etc.

 

What they are providing instead is keycard access to the spa....