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JW & JEROME'S EPIC THANKSGIVING 2012 ADVENTURE, Review with Pics & Comments!

cruiseguys2009

By cruiseguys2009,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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cruiseguys2009

cruiseguys2009

Posted
Posted

Oh Boy here we go again!

 

Yes, it is detailed and will be completely forthcoming during the next week.

 

You know, with so many of my previous reviews, I have to sit and think for several days following the cruise, to make sure that I am going to be completely positive and sure about everything that I will write. This time, I have had to take several extra days, just to be sure of how I truly felt about the experiences that made up the big picture. The experiences that are made memorable, are ones that bring joy and giddiness in thinking back, plus the very ODD experiences of this particular ship and sailing, so it is truly what I would like to convey, which is the best part of the journey, and touching on areas that were challenges and most certainly can be improved.

 

Let's start with my Partner and I. We are early 50's, in the "Biz", as my Partner Flies for a Major Airline (begins with a "U" and just merged with "C") and I am a Hotelier (the one that begins with "M" and ends in "TT). We are both in the Guest Relations and Travel Industry and have both been recognized Nationally in our industries, for our own Excellence. I am a Guest Relations Guru. I was awarded the Malcome Baldridge Award for Excellence in Customer Service, which is a United States Presidential Award, and train indiviuals to be their best in those positions of CS. Jerome is a Qualified, Award Winning Leader in his Company and recognized Internationally in his profession, actively participating on an International Level for the Union that represents hundreds of thousands of Airline Employees.

 

Therefore, we only take Cruises when we vacation, since that is the last bastion of Real Customer Service that resembles what we "Old Timers" give to our guest and we want to receive in return. Needless to say, I, am the very much outgoing of the two and usually become the more famous on the cruise, because my Life Motto is "Have as much fun as possible and take as many people with me as I can". And for those of you who were on this particular sailing with us, I am the one with the Silver Sequined Disco Ball Shirt and wore Wings to the White Hot Party!.

 

As a mindful hint to everyone, This is an:

"In My Opinion and quite thorough (as always) review",

With me being "The Mouth Of The South", we are going to have some fun crafting and posting the detailed review, along with help from the rest of our Cruise Critic Roll Call Gang. This is all for everyone's enjoyment, and to be able to avidly share our experiences, without whining, complaining, nit-picking and moaning.

 

Our Cruise Critic Group, after all, became the most notable as being the Largest Posting EPIC Roll Call Ever to date, PRIOR to sailing. A couple of roll calls exceed us, but that is because of Posting only AFTER the sailing not before.

 

Being a Thanksgiving Holiday Sailing, there were actually more than 300 Cruise Critic active Members and over 100 Lurkers and casual posters.

 

With all that in mind and after careful consideration of each experience Jerome and I came across on the Norwegian EPIC, there were many positive experiences and then several not so positive challenges. However, to Norwegian's credit, ALL Not So Positive Mechanical and Service Challenges, we personally experienced, were met professionally, quickly and completely, and handled to our satisfaction. That is a direct Kudos to Richard, our Hotel Director, Adrian our Concierge, Hipolitto our Butler and the rest of the Magnificent Staff.

 

The Crew, The Service Staff, Our Butler and Our Concierge and his Staff all under the Hotel Director Richard, did a fabulous job and work extraordinarily hard, impressively hard.

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

 

As just a further qualification of the review that is yet to come, here is a short outline of SOME of my contradistinctions that what will be published:

 

My unresolved feelings are such:

 

That it was an ODD experience. Neither Good or Bad, just ODD.

 

Odd in the Ship, Odd in the inconsistency of the Food in the different venues (as well as it's Presentation), Odd in our Haven Spa Suite Stateroom, and Odd most especially in the Casino. The ODD moments that define my opinion and my review are as follows:

Casino's At Sea:

 

I actually was the most bored, disappointed and felt as though I was the most horribly disregarded Casino Customer ever,....which all was supposed to be taking place in the biggest "Casino at Sea".

 

Actually I have had much more fun getting Dental Implants than losing in the EPIC Casinos At Sea, only because of the Vicodin I got from the Doctor after the procedure! They both cost me the same amount of money! Losing in the EPIC Casinos at Sea = The same cost of my Dental Implants!

 

See my more in-depth post on the boards.

Specialty Restaurants:

 

Having cruised Norwegian (formerly known as NCL) since 2009, I disappointingly recognized the "Dumbing Down" of the famous Restaurant Venues such as La Cuccina, Le Bistro and Cagney's. More in detail later in my review. Neither are what they used to be and have changed considerably in the past year alone.

The Private EPIC Lounge Cocktail Party:

 

I also was insurmountably disappointed in the breach of etiquette by whoever was in charge, during a Private "Suite Guest Only" Cocktail Party, held in the Private "Suite Guest Only" Epic Lounge one evening, where a particular NON-Suite Guest was apparently INVITED and INCLUDED.

 

Said he worked for a major Pharmaceutical outfit but he fast became an untrustworthy security breached opportunist, making his way into our separate conversation groups and uncomfortably, attempted to financially qualify us and the various other attending Suite Guests....... as we all pondered later.....1) Who allowed him to be there in the first place? 2) Why was he there? 3) What business was it how much we made or what we did for a living (as he asked us unequivocally), and 4) Who we were and where we were from, not just surface questions, but wanted in depth details....far too entrusting for a first chance meeting.

 

It was unacceptable and truly foreboding.

 

The Haven Spa Suite:

 

Odd, unusual, uncomfortable and surreal. The best part was the shower, as it is truly an amazing experience, and made the rest of the Spa Suite palatable.

 

But the most unusual was the waters, ever flowing from and out of, the Jacuzzi Bathtub, which is located in the Main Bedroom/Living area. Heck, the Tub IS the Living Area.....and at one point, we needed Noah to guide us into the hallway because of the water, water everywhere. Why put a tub in the middle of the floor as a substitute for the Livingroom, if all you will sing is "Come Sail Away, Come Sail Away" when tub's jets were turned on. See, the vibration of the jet motors caused the Turned Off Faucets to malfunction, and water poured unnoticed, from under the faucets, running down the side of the tub, onto the floor! Geez wait till you hear this story, It's Hysterical!

 

In any event, those are the challenges, you will find out how they were met professionally by the wonderful staff. The review is currently under construction and look for it to begin to appear on Tuesday.

 

Love and Kisses everyone!

 

The Mouth Of The South will once again Sing The Mighty Praises of Norwegian, The EPIC, as well as truly and loudly Lambast, IN MY HONEST OPINION, where it is necessary!

All in all, we had a good time, not great, but a good time.

 

Look out the tongue is a wagging'!

 

JW, The EPIC Queen, and Jerome

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Coastalbreezes

Coastalbreezes

Posted
Posted

Can't wait to read more...your reviews are by far the most entertaining on these boards!

 

I was especially disappointed to read your other post about CAS and your experience. Will be on the Jewel as a CAS guest in a few weeks and will report back as to my experience.

 

Tracy

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swmichigan cruiser

swmichigan cruiser

Posted
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JW and Jerome We have done 4 cruises on the Epic twice in suites. The last two were the last med cruise this year and then we stayed on for the TA. First cruise we weren't in a suite but for the TA we were in a suite. On the med cruise we were invited to the party even though we weren't in a suite. I get the impression they always invite some people that aren't in a suite. Not sure how they choose them but I know we have met people in there that set up the meet and mingle. So I'm not even sure how they chose us to attend the week we weren't in a suite. We usually only stay a few minutes anyhow even with only suite guests its a pretty small area and gets a little to crowded and noisy for me.

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unboringuy

unboringuy

Posted
Posted

I am looking forward to reading your review. I was on the TA on Epic on October 21, and am surprised by your comments on the casino. The only problem I had with the casino as the smoke (NCL, you REALLY need to put in some professional installed smoke eaters as opposed to those cheap standup units; or ban smoking altogether). Now it may well be that the staff changed over after our cruise, but I was greeting by all of the casino staff by first name whenever I was in the casino. Initially, I thought that perhaps it was because I am a very generous tipper. But I noticed that they were just as friendly and nice to all of the customers.

 

In any event, I certainly am looking forward to your review.

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unboringuy

unboringuy

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Oh....and by the way I did not book through CAS. I paid for my stateroom, and I did use a CAS card at the tables and in machines. I did qualify for the "free drink" card, but it was really unnecessary since I played at the high stakes tables and they brought whatever I wanted when I played.

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