Our epic experience 9/25

[lovinacruise]

We just got off the EPIC Sat 10/2 … First of all our family consist of me and my husband and we are in our mid 40’s traveling with 2 children , 9 yr old daughter and our 10 son. I have cruised more than a dozen times but to be honest I have lost count. Well here’s what we thought of our family experience…

CHECK IN: I’m not sure what happen but it took us 2 hours from the time we stepped out of the taxi at the ports until we walked on to the ship. We arrived at 11:00 and boarded at 1 ish. They moved us from one big room into another room as if herding cattle. I didn’t like this process at all. But I have heard of others getting through the check in process in 20 mins or less.

THE CABIN: We had a balcony cabin 14089. We arrived on the ship and spend the first night breathing second hand smoke from the cabin that adjoined our cabin. Yes, the door was shut and locked but it somehow filled our cabin full of a terrible smell and a visible haze. Our daughter has asthma so we were concern. We reported the problem and the staff reacted immediately, by cleaning our cabin and bring in an air neutralizer. Well that was a temporary fix. When the smokers returned to their room in the pm the cabin was just as before. The staff again reacted immediately by offering to move us to the starboard side of the ship and since they didn’t have a cabin for 4 they gave us 2 cabins that adjoined. This was not only allowing us to have fresh air but more room for a family of 4. Cheers to NCL, Great customer service on that one. As for the SINKS, yes they splash; the BATHROOM/SHOWER design, no privacy; The BALCONIES, are spacious; STORAGE surprisingly plentiful; BED very comfortable.

THE PLUNGE/WATER SLIDES/THE MEDICIAL CENTER: The kids thought the slides were a blast. So my husband and I decided to try them. I went down the plunge ( yellow with flush bowl) got off and told my husband he needed to try it. He ended up losing his tube and came out at the bottom with blood from head to toe. He had hit his head so hard that he was dazed, his head was cut and the medical assistants came quickly with a wheel chair and took him to the medical center. There he ended up getting switches. I have to say this was a first for us. We have never visited the medical center on a ship. We did hear that there was another man injured the next day in a similar way. BEWARE !!!!!

FOOD: I can only commitment on the ones we tried: GARDEN CAFÉ: loved it, lots of choices, no long lines, Negative: seats are hard to come by at times. TASTE: Liked it ok, few choices , Negative: SLOW SERVICE. OSHEEHANS: LOVED IT, lots of choices. Kind of like an Applebees or a Chill’s, quick service. Manhattan: Liked it, few choices, Lobsters night was Tuesday and they are small and not tasty, loved the music and the atmosphere. Atrium Café: Loved it, great for coffee and Danish, quick service. Moderno Churrascaria: Liked it, lots of steak, chicken meats of ok quality. The salad bar is great ! But not $20 worth. Cirque Dreams & Dinner:LOVED THE SHOW, a must see ! Food ok.Wasabi, LOVED it, if you like sushi, you’ll will love Wasabi.

ENTERTAINMENT : BLUE MAN GROUP, Loved it , Kids really loved it. Legends Unplugged, Loved it , kids loved it as well. NICK SLIME LIVE great family activity. ICE BAR, Loved it. hint… Northern lights drink really strong, suggestion: Order the kids strawberry kiss drink with the vodka. Fabulous!!! SECOND CITY , Didn’t enjoy it all. I guess I don’t get improve comedy.

Suggestions for Island activities: ST MAARTEN : Rent Rhino Riders, great value lots of fun, extremely safe, and they take you to a great snorkeling area. Check out their website.. http://stmaartencruiseexcursions.com/RhinoRiderSnorkeling.htm ST THOMAS: A must see is St Johns Island. 75% of the island is natural forest and it’s truly beautiful. Due to the time restraint we took the ships excursion. The beach we went to was Trunk Bay. It is amazing. I have been to several of the Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Hawaii but this place is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen !!!

Kids program/RECESS: The kids loved it. They had all kinds of fun games and activities planned for the kids. They were well organized and had a state of the art facility with video games and a dance floor with all the flashing lights that the kids loved !

Our overall experience was positive and we would love to sail on the Epic again but we won't be riding the water slides :)

[GigCrusier]

Nice review.. This is the first time I have heard about people getting injured on the slides.

 

Would you sail on Epic again?

[NEW 2 CRUISIN]

Glad you had a good cruise!

 

Hope your husband is feeling better!

 

Thanks for sharing your experience here!

 

:)

[lovinacruise]

Nice review.. This is the first time I have heard about people getting injured on the slides.

 

Would you sail on Epic again?

 

Yes, But we will not be riding on the slides !!!! :eek:

[coffeebean]

Yes, But we will not be riding on the slides !!!! :eek:

Too bad about hubby's injury. Hope he is OK. I've read about folks losing their tube but not being injured. Just curious, did the Medical Center charge you for hubby's visit?

[fsuhockette]

hint… Northern lights drink really strong, suggestion: Order the kids strawberry kiss drink with the vodka. Fabulous!!!

 

 

Ooh - I did this an could barely stomach my 2nd drink (the dream drink with alcohol added to it). It was so strong - the vodka doesn't mix with it and it was a straight shot of vodka on top of a super yummy drink. A yucky start to a good drink.

[leslierx]

the medical assistants came quickly with a wheel chair and took him to the medical center. There he ended up getting switches.

Oh my, he gets hurt, and then gets a spanking! Ha ha - I know you mean stitches!:D

[Jerseyboy1]

OP..thanks for the review and glad you managed to have a good time afterall.

 

It's also nice to hear that you were able to get moved and the smoke situation was resolved. I do wonder what they (NCL) would have done if there were no other rooms available though.

 

As far as the slide incident is concerned, call your lawyer....

[sottovoce]

As far as the slide incident is concerned, call your lawyer....

Yep, the all-American reaction to nearly everything.:rolleyes:

[lovinacruise]

Too bad about hubby's injury. Hope he is OK. I've read about folks losing their tube but not being injured. Just curious, did the Medical Center charge you for hubby's visit?

 

 

Funny you ask, It's like one of the first words out of the drs mouth " you will not be charged for this medicial care". He didn"t ask about pain, blurred vision, dizziness or anything. I thought that was kinda a strange thing to say to a man with blood dripping down his body.:rolleyes:

[intrepid_guy]

Hmm, I thought that $18 was more than fair for Moderno, endless meat, sides and salad. I am sure I ate more than $18 of the Garlic Steak alone.

 

~Intrepid <-- sooo meaty