EPIC review 8/7-14

[NewHere]

I'll probably add to this as I think of things. Let me start by saying I think I found out that I am NOT a freestyle person. But more on that later. The ship was pretty, and portions well laid out. Other areas (see casino note below) were unacceptable. Who designed a ship where you walk through a smoking area???

 

9 people, 2 families. kids ages 13-20

 

What I loved:

- Fat Cats - amazing.

- 2nd City-again, very very funny, top quality entertainment

- Embarkation - never so fast or easy.

- Muster drill - OMG -under 10 minutes, all in A/C, no life jackets.

- O'Sheehans - what a great concept. Loved it.

- Always found lounge chairs at the pool

- Photo gallery- well thought out, face recognition helped a grea deal

 

What I hated:

- Why MUST I walk through the smoking section of a casino to get anywhere on Deck 6 or 7?

- The room - a section to itself (see below)

- Dining-another section to itself

- Nickel and diming. $5 to bowl per person. $5 for pizza room service. $5 for a spin class (!!!), $1 for soda derlivery to room if you had a card. Gve me a cruise price and let me pay for true extras (excursions, spa, alcohol, gaming)

- Pool area. Are you kidding? Smaler amount of pool than on RCCL Voyager class for 4100 people. You had to stand up and not move IF you could find a place. Insane and unacceptbale. I found the pushing of drinks EVERY 5 mins very annoying.

- Epic theatre: Poorly designed, many bad side seats, and it seemed MUCH smaller than most ships

 

 

The other things (not loved or hated) The 'marketing' issue: Don't tell me you have batting cages IF they are only put up for 2 hours a day and only in port, in the sports court. Don't tell me you have ice skating if there is a piece of plastic to slide on occaisionally. Don't tell me there is an Ice Bar on ship BUT forget to tell me you have to reserve in advance and you get shut out by day 2. Don't tell me you have a sushi bar, not list it in the 'extra' cost dining rooms, then charge me by the piece. Etc, etc. Also,Spice H2O always had kids there, and they actually shoed the bow camera leaving Cozumel on the screen. The pool (?) is a joke, the area has lots of potential if NCL can figure it out and utilize it better.

 

 

 

Dining:

Main Dining rooms very average, wait staff seemed adequate at best. 5 standard main dishes, and 3 specials every night. Sorry, but Tom Turkey is not a special. Quality of the food average. I think the idea is to up-price you to specialty dining. After paying $25 for dinner per person on a cruise, I don't expect ot pay ANOTHER $10 for a secial there. Food at Cagneys and LaCucina were wonderful and worth it, Bistro - ok. Tappanyaki was poor, tight. Shangai was very good, but not very good chinese food. In other words,I really liked the food, but it was totally not Chinese food! Which is fine.

 

The room:

Translucent shower/toilet not the issue. The issue is you cannot take a shower (or anything else) if one member of you family is out of the room or risk being seen by anyone in the hall upon their return. It is the first thing you see when you open the cabin door. The room (Balcony) at 216 ft seemed SO MUCH smaller tha the RCCL balconies at 220. They are laid out terribly. Had to climb over the bed every time to get to the balcony. Bed it too short-even for my 5'1" wife. The curved wall is a stupid waste of space.

 

Freestyle:

 

Too much work for me. If I reserve 7 people for the murder mstery I should not have to get there 30 mins early to get us sitting together. They should have a table of 7 reserved. Arriving 40 mins early to every show to get decent seats was bad. Having to reserve and decide what ou were doing when before you cruised was the only way to ensure you got into what you wanted. That doesn't sound freestyle to me.

 

I think I like someone telling me I have dinner at 6:30 and a show at 8:30 and there will be room for me. I like my wairter knowing me and me tipping them (generously) for that 'extra something' you get on a cruise.

 

One final note - Don't disembark at 8:30 - 3 mins for an elevator to wait another 40 mins on line. This was to 'card' off of the ship. Immigration and Customs were a breeze.

[klingoncruiser]

Ouch..... but thanks for the review.

[Law5Guy]

Thanks for the review.

I hope to sail on Epic next spring. Sure, hearing all the good stuff helps get the juices flowing, but I'm not so naive as to think the ship is flawless. If anything NCL needs to hear the bad news in order to try to correct/improve.

 

Not sure I agree with you about the sushi or noodle bars. I think they are pretty identified as "extra fee" venues. The ice rink sounds like a fraud. Batting cages would be great...even greater with a decent pitching machine. Reservations for Ice Bar are clearly required. Problems with seating at the shows may be unavoidable, unless they go to specific, assigned seating...not likely.

 

Thanks again. I hope you post more.

[NewHere]

I think the seatig problems at the shows is that they are trying to fit too many passengers into smaller venues then on previous ships-although more of them. Somehow the math isn't worked out yet.

[aloanldy]

Thanks for the review... I've not freestyle cruised yet and will be going in October. Also a little apprehensive about it.

Our first time with NCL.

 

My Best friend was on Oasis with her entire family and they did RCCL's version of anytime dining and had trouble getting a table for 12 every night also. I think with a larger party it will be difficult for any cruise line.

 

I also agree with your comment about paying for the cruise and extra fees should be for "extras".

 

Charlie

[NEW 2 CRUISIN]

Thanks for the review NEWHERE!

 

If anything, I want all the negatives about the EPIC called out now, so NCL has a fair chance to correct the early identified issues ASAP for future cruises.

 

(And certainly by the time I cruise on her next year! :D)

[sjbdtz]

Thanks for the review... I've not freestyle cruised yet and will be going in October. Also a little apprehensive about it.

Our first time with NCL.

 

My Best friend was on Oasis with her entire family and they did RCCL's version of anytime dining and had trouble getting a table for 12 every night also. I think with a larger party it will be difficult for any cruise line.

 

I also agree with your comment about paying for the cruise and extra fees should be for "extras".

 

Charlie

 

 

When you have a large group, you CAN make advanced reservations....obviously you'll be corralling the group at a specific time (let's meet at Taste at 7:45 tonight)....so just tell the Maitre d'Hotel earlier in the day, to expect you.... no problems!

 

You can't reserve 'party of two', but I think the rule is 6 + ....

[UK_Cruiser]

When you have a large group, you CAN make advanced reservations....obviously you'll be corralling the group at a specific time (let's meet at Taste at 7:45 tonight)....so just tell the Maitre d'Hotel earlier in the day, to expect you.... no problems!

 

You can't reserve 'party of two', but I think the rule is 6 + ....

 

 

Really ?

 

On RCI MyTime Dining you can book a party of two every day for whatever time you wish.

[wack001]

Said it before and will say again

FREESTYLE= For A Fee.

 

Free to do anything = be prepared to wait.

 

Much like above posters, just give me one charge and stop all this nickel and dime, let me pay for the extras. I usually take groups and yes hard to get big tables over 10, just nature of the dining room.

cruisinbob.com

[luv4cruisin]

I really don't get all the nickel and dime complaints. If we wanted to do/eat/drink something, we did it. If not, no big deal. I enjoy option to pay for what you want, not what you don't. And if everything were included, you would be waiting even longer because EVERYONE would be participating. I can't imagine how bad Cirque would be if there wasn't that pesky cover charge. Which was completely worth it!

[AustinOO]

And if everything were included, you would be waiting even longer because EVERYONE would be participating.

 

Good point. I'm cool with it because I think I fully understand what to expect going in. I think much of the complaining occurs when someone does not realize how it works before they arrive.

[RNPJN]

When you have a large group, you CAN make advanced reservations....obviously you'll be corralling the group at a specific time (let's meet at Taste at 7:45 tonight)....so just tell the Maitre d'Hotel earlier in the day, to expect you.... no problems!

 

You can't reserve 'party of two', but I think the rule is 6 + ....

We have reserved a 'party of two' at the MDR several times, and last did so in Jan on the Pearl no problems

[coffeebean]

Good point. I'm cool with it because I think I fully understand what to expect going in. I think much of the complaining occurs when someone does not realize how it works before they arrive.

It pays to do your homework when planning a vacation, doesn't it?

[Mike1178]

IMO Epic as well as RCL Oasis of the Seas is trying to bring new attractions to cruisers (bowling, aqua-park, bigger spas .... bigger, more, more and then some more). The Epic is a city on the sea and not too dissimilar to a US Navy Aircraft Carrier in respect to the size but the bulk of the people are looking to have fun instead of working a job in the military. I've not sailed on RCL but hear this is the "top" cruise line from numerous people.

 

My take is you can't be all things to all people. NCL does a good job at showing me and my family a good time at a vacation. Can I complain? Sure. On the flip side both my daughters had a wonderful time and my wife of over 25 years thinks I'm a vacation expert since we booked to the Villa Complex.

 

The Epic is not perfect but my advice is to spring for the extra bucks and go for the Villa Complex on top of the Epic world ... you will be pressed to complain, imo

 

...Mike

[sjbdtz]

Said it before and will say again

FREESTYLE= For A Fee.

 

Free to do anything = be prepared to wait.

 

Much like above posters, just give me one charge and stop all this nickel and dime, let me pay for the extras. I usually take groups and yes hard to get big tables over 10, just nature of the dining room.

cruisinbob.com

 

 

Don't give ME one charge. I don't want to pay for your extras. If I'm not using it, I don't want to pay for it.

 

You pay for what YOU use, and I'll pay for what I use....... :)

[bluesea777]

NewHere,

 

Sorry you had a lousy cruise - it seems that bad things outweighed the good things for you.

 

But I looked in your profile ... why on the earth didn't you try the Oasis of the Seas??? You went on EPIC because it's a lot cheaper than Oasis, right?

 

If so, you should have expected to be nickeled and dimed - the majority of NCL cruisers do not feel they are nickeled & dimed - they prefer to pay low cruise fares and then pay what they want to aboard the ship.

 

My 2 cents.

[coastalcarolinakid]

I don't think waiting 3 mins for an elevator is a long time. I waited much longer the few times I did use it.

[snorklinbarb]

Funny we met a lady next to us in Blue Man who "resented" the $5 bowling fee ("nickel and diming"). She was a Royal cruiser. Then got talking to hubby and talked about paying extra for Ben & Jerry's (vs. at least 8 different "hard" ice cream flavors and soft-serve on Epic) and Johnny Rockets (vs. O'Sheehan's). She also said they had paid $100/head for Blue Man in Vegas.

 

Many others told us of how much they spent for Blue Man at different places around the country and even $80 pp for Legends in Concert.

 

So I guess it's all how one views these things. With so many choices of dining NCL gets particularly criticized as other lines also have one or a couple specialties which charge....NCL has many more to choose from. One guy in the pool absolutely LOVED Moderno but complained it was $18/pp. We told him about our Churrascarria in Manhattan (without dessert, tax or tip) for $51.95 each and another person piped up that they pay $49.95 at their place in Baltimore.

 

BTW, Freestyle Daily very clearly indicates sushi "a la carte" so I'm surprised this reviewer was taken aback when they arrived at the sushi bar and had to pay extra. Maybe they should add an * like the other surcharge places though.

[grumpah1]

Luv4Crusin and Mike1178, you make a very good arguments for why NCL charges for extras. My wife and I just came off of the 8/7 sailing and we thought that paying extra for the specialty restaurants and some of the activities was ridiculous, but now I can see there's a point to be made as to why. Of course, it maximizes NCL's profit margins but it also means that the cruise would probably cost a lot more per person.

 

We went "cheapo" (inside cabin, didn't pay for extras except shore excursions, Blue Man, Cirque and a few drinks - even declined a balcony upgrade) and still had an awesome time. This permitted us to spend 3 days pre-cruise in South Beach and 3 days post-cruise in Key West.

 

Different stroke for different folks.

[2010_cruisers]

FREESTYLE= For A Fee.

 

That sounds very interesting.

[NewHere]

I don't think waiting 3 mins for an elevator is a long time. I waited much longer the few times I did use it.

 

 

Typo-That was supposed to be 30 minutes. But again, I didn't realize that 8:30 would be the time everyone would choose to leave

[NewHere]

NewHere,

 

Sorry you had a lousy cruise - it seems that bad things outweighed the good things for you.

 

But I looked in your profile ... why on the earth didn't you try the Oasis of the Seas??? You went on EPIC because it's a lot cheaper than Oasis, right?

 

 

 

Actually, I didn't have a lousy cruise-I am just indicating some of the things that bothered me-AND I started out by saying that one of the problems may be that I realized I ma not a freestyle cruiser.

 

I chose the EPIC not because it was cheaper (actually, on my cruise there was only about $150 difference) but because I wanted to try the freestyle experience. The reason I cruise is so I don't have to worry about every little things I do and the cost for a spin class or a game of bowling. I didn;t realize all of the reservating and planning that goes into freestyle. I assume it was - well-freestyle- - not planning. I know better now. That is just me, and I thought I was being upfront about why I think my cruise experience was less than I expected.

[pcreek]

Don't give ME one charge. I don't want to pay for your extras. If I'm not using it, I don't want to pay for it.

 

You pay for what YOU use, and I'll pay for what I use....... :)

 

 

I Totally agree with this - exactly why I cruise w/ NCL! :D

[Beanie01]

Personally, I don't see why everyone keeps saying NCL is "nickel & diming." Every mainstream cruiseline has a couple of fee restaurants. What's the difference if there's 2 or 12? Who is making you go?? Another thing Epic offers, which Liberty of the Seas (Royal) did not is two nice restaurants (I believe other NCL ships have this as well); Manhattan Room and Taste, in addition to the buffet -- all included.

 

$5 for bowling? What about ships that don't have bowling at all? Do people miss it? If you haven't bowled on other ships, you don't need to on NCL, but it's there if you'd like to.

 

Booking shows in advance - Again, never had to do so in advance, but I don't find it to be a big deal. This ship is offering more shows than any other, and it's a way to ensure you get to see them all - if you choose to. I spent a few minutes one morning booking shows when reservations opened, knowing I'd have to be on line 30 minutes prior. It's all done now. Once I'm on board, I'll know my itinerary. I just have to show up. The planning is done.

 

If folks don't want to have to pre-plan, there's plenty of traditional ships with traditional dining times (as well as open dining), and your typical cruise show at 7:30 and 10:30. Maybe Epic isn't as freestyle as it's other NCL predecessors, but it offers a whole lot more.

 

I've been reading every review and the "Everything Epic" forum, so I'm well informed and don't expect any surprises. Looking forward to a fun, active, exciting vacation! :D

[NewHere]

Wow

:eek:

 

 

I gave my opinion of a cruise experience. OK-everything was great and it was perfect. I wouldn't change a thing. :)

 

Better?