megacruiser Posted April 6, 2015 Author #501 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Great review and photos! You did an awesome job and making me feel like I was right there with you. EPIC is a ship that never really appealed to me but I find myself booked on her in two weeks on the crossing to Barcelona. Your pics really helped to set the mood and let me see some aspects of her that are quite appealing. Unfortunately I don't think anything will change my opinion of her exterior! The good thing is I don't have to look at it since I will be onboard. LOL Thanks again! Delighted to get feedback from such a sage veteran of these boards. As on so many things, I do agree with you about the exterior... I will say the entertainment on the Epic was the probably the best I have experienced since my westbound transatlantic on the Norway in 1997. I don't know if NCL still make those crossings special but in any case I am sure you will have a great time. Kind regards megacruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare eroller Posted April 6, 2015 #502 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Have a great time and really looking forward to the report. Other than the waterfront, I find Epic's spaces and venues so much better, BIGGER and Epic ;) Can't believe I'm actually going to say this … but bigger is not always better! LOL One of the things I loved about GETAWAY was The Waterfront. I think I will really miss it on EPIC. I also like the smaller and more intimate venues like the Sunset Bar and Sugarcane. I thought it was cool they had outdoor sections as well so you could always get some fresh air and relax outside. I loved the binoculars on The Waterfront as they were great for ship spotting. The gym & spa as well as Spice H20 seem superior on EPIC, along with the Haven (won't matter much to me since I'm not booked in it), but I'm not sure about anything else. I guess I'll find out soon enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare eroller Posted April 6, 2015 #503 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Delighted to get feedback from such a sage veteran of these boards. As on so many things, I do agree with you about the exterior... I will say the entertainment on the Epic was the probably the best I have experienced since my westbound transatlantic on the Norway in 1997. I don't know if NCL still make those crossings special but in any case I am sure you will have a great time. Kind regards megacruiser You are too kind thank you. One of the greatest things I got from your review was the forward outdoor deck with Posh-style furnishings but no charge. What a great tidbit and I never knew that existed. You saved me some $$ since now I won't be buying a Posh pass, and I thank you for that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemsy10 Posted April 7, 2015 #504 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Many thanks for the kind comment. I hope to sail again on Epic in 2016 out of Barcelona. It's got me thinking about how it compares to Getaway. Off the top of my head here are the areas where, for me, it wins: Studio lighting; main pool deck; Spice H2O; Garden Café, especially outdoor area; Moderno and Cagney's; Le Bistro; Teppanyaki; Bliss; Library and the best entertainment at sea. Overall, Getaway still wins in my book because of Deck 8, including the innovative Waterfront; and the Vibe Beach Club. Kind regards megacruiser I really want to try the getaway next year hopefully as the deck 8 waterfront looks so cool :) and vibe beach does sound better than posh. I haven't done any speciality restaurants on the epic so hoping to try one or 2 this time, hopefully with some new solo friends!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlajr Posted April 9, 2015 #505 Share Posted April 9, 2015 (edited) I'm so glad someone else replied to this thread recently, so that it popped up on the list of new posts! I, like at least one other reader before me, just spent most of an afternoon reading your review, word for word and beautiful picture for beautiful picture. I was on Epic's Spring 2012 transatlantic from Miami to Barcelona, and have recently been looking at going on it again sometime in the late fall 2015 or early spring 2016. Again, thank you for giving me such a wonderful way to spend a few hours! Edited April 9, 2015 by jlajr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare eroller Posted April 9, 2015 #506 Share Posted April 9, 2015 I was on Epic's Spring 2012 transatlantic from Miami to Barcelona, and have recently been looking at going on it again sometime in the late fall 2015 or early spring 2016. Hey that's the cruise I'm booked on, in 10 days but who's counting! LOL Depart Miami on April 19th and arrive in Barcelona on the 30th. We have only one stop in Funchal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlajr Posted April 10, 2015 #507 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Hey that's the cruise I'm booked on, in 10 days but who's counting! LOL Depart Miami on April 19th and arrive in Barcelona on the 30th. We have only one stop in Funchal. Have a great trip, eroller! In Spring 2012, we stopped at Ponta Delgada instead of Funchal. I don't know about you, but that wouldn't make any difference to me. I haven't yet chosen a cruise based on the port(s) of call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanaj1 Posted April 10, 2015 #508 Share Posted April 10, 2015 I would like to have this review to print and take with us in September?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare eroller Posted April 10, 2015 #509 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Have a great trip, eroller! In Spring 2012, we stopped at Ponta Delgada instead of Funchal. I don't know about you, but that wouldn't make any difference to me. I haven't yet chosen a cruise based on the port(s) of call. Thank you! Really looking forward to it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetlove13 Posted April 11, 2015 #510 Share Posted April 11, 2015 megacruiser, do you know if studio 11516 is a good or bad location? I booked that one as there were only a few choices left for a sailing on a holiday week. Hoping I didn't make a poor choice. Thanks for the fabulous review, now I have a better idea what to expect since I have not yet sailed NCL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megacruiser Posted April 12, 2015 Author #511 Share Posted April 12, 2015 megacruiser, do you know if studio 11516 is a good or bad location? I booked that one as there were only a few choices left for a sailing on a holiday week. Hoping I didn't make a poor choice. Thanks for the fabulous review, now I have a better idea what to expect since I have not yet sailed NCL! Hi, The two Studios that had a noise-issue from banging doors were 12514 and 12515. Studio 11516 is excellent in that it is right beside the main part of the Studio Lounge. Whether there might be any noise intrusion depends mainly on what that empty space is between the studio and the lounge. If it's a service area or store room, it might be a problem. To be fair though, looking at the plans there are a lot of empty spaces adjacent to studios and they can't all be noisy areas... Perhaps someone who had a Studio on Deck 11 will be able to answer better. Thanks for your very kind compliment. Regards megacruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escana Posted April 13, 2015 #512 Share Posted April 13, 2015 wonderfull review,really enjoyed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marion B Posted April 25, 2015 #513 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Thanks to cruisecritic's search feature, I have discovered Epic 101 and spent a delightful few hours learning what I can expect from my upcoming trip on her. The food porn, dailies and menus were especially appreciated, as well as the Barcelona car service recommendation. Our cruising companions are new to NCL and this will be especially helpful to them. Most appreciative of your review and smooth sailing to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzybell1960 Posted April 26, 2015 #514 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Thanks for posting. I was on the old Oriana twice and have two abiding memories. One was the fact that a large section of the dance floor was removed to winch luggage aboard and the second was a bar, beside the enclosed swimming pool, where free milk shakes made with fresh bananas were served. Those were the days. My first cruise with P&O was on the old Arcadia and the present one is the third incarnation of that name. The most special ship had to be Canberra, but the lack of private facilities eventually sealed its fate. Memories... Reagrds megacruiser Hi-The grand old ships you mentioned caught my eye. We also were on these ships & the Oronsay, my fav :) We have pics of my sissy & I in the QE & QM nurseries, as my parents believed in utilizing them! My mom was on the maiden voyage of Oronsay fr GB to NZ(early 50s?) and we were all aboard her final voyage in the summer of 1975. There was something very special about those old, smaller ships.....& for me some of the very best times of my life. Thanks very much for sharing your memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alonzo14 Posted April 26, 2015 #515 Share Posted April 26, 2015 I just caught this review yesterday and took me most of the day to get through it! Thank you so much for the time you took to post such wonderful detailed reviews. I definitely plan to check out the others! Haven't sailed on any of NCL's newest ships but I have been on the Oasis so your review will bring back memories! Your pictures are fabulous too! You truly make ANY cruise sound interesting. Thanks again and Happy cruising! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megacruiser Posted May 3, 2015 Author #516 Share Posted May 3, 2015 wonderfull review,really enjoyed it. Many thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megacruiser Posted May 3, 2015 Author #517 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Thanks to cruisecritic's search feature, I have discovered Epic 101 and spent a delightful few hours learning what I can expect from my upcoming trip on her. The food porn, dailies and menus were especially appreciated, as well as the Barcelona car service recommendation. Our cruising companions are new to NCL and this will be especially helpful to them. Most appreciative of your review and smooth sailing to you! That is very kind of you taking the time to comment. Great to hear my review is of help. Kind regards megacruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megacruiser Posted May 3, 2015 Author #518 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Hi-The grand old ships you mentioned caught my eye. We also were on these ships & the Oronsay, my fav :) We have pics of my sissy & I in the QE & QM nurseries, as my parents believed in utilizing them! My mom was on the maiden voyage of Oronsay fr GB to NZ(early 50s?) and we were all aboard her final voyage in the summer of 1975. There was something very special about those old, smaller ships.....& for me some of the very best times of my life. Thanks very much for sharing your memories. As a child in the mid-sixties I was on the Oronsay, with no en-suite facilities in Tourist Class, when class segregation was the norm. Even there, the menus seemed exotic, including a Farinaceous course on the luncheon menu... Many thanks for commenting. Kind regards megacruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megacruiser Posted May 3, 2015 Author #519 Share Posted May 3, 2015 I just caught this review yesterday and took me most of the day to get through it! Thank you so much for the time you took to post such wonderful detailed reviews. I definitely plan to check out the others! Haven't sailed on any of NCL's newest ships but I have been on the Oasis so your review will bring back memories! Your pictures are fabulous too! You truly make ANY cruise sound interesting. Thanks again and Happy cruising! Thanks so much for the enthusiastic praise. Much appreciated. Kind regards megacruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisin D Posted May 5, 2015 #520 Share Posted May 5, 2015 (edited) Hi Megacruiser, I am loving your fabulous detailed review, we are sailing on the Epic in January this will be our first time with NCL, your review has been very helpful so far. Thankyou for all your efforts. I do have one question if you do not mind, we have the UDP & UBP, my DH and I enjoy our coffee and are wondering if the Latte's in the Atrium Cafe are included with the UBP. Thanks again Edited May 5, 2015 by Cruisin D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzybell1960 Posted May 5, 2015 #521 Share Posted May 5, 2015 As a child in the mid-sixties I was on the Oronsay, with no en-suite facilities in Tourist Class, when class segregation was the norm. Even there, the menus seemed exotic, including a Farinaceous course on the luncheon menu... Many thanks for commenting. Kind regards megacruiser i remember being on F deck & 4 tucked into a tiny cabin w/facilities down the hall...the laundry & showers w/teak mats, the "tourist class" pool, the Fife room, ice cream at the pool, bingo, the open decks & the smell of fresh bread in dining room nightly....as well as many other wonderful memories. The menus were exotic & for many years we had a few...not sure where they are now. Thank you for sharing your memories of Oronsay :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bess128 Posted July 12, 2015 #522 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Hello Megacruiser, Just read this review fantastic and informative as ever, most helpful as going on Epic next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeflynn45 Posted August 21, 2015 #523 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Hi Mike, I have e-mailed you. Happy to call you to answer any questions... Regards megacruiser Hey you...i know i missed your call last spring and i appreciate your willingness to help so many! I am solo crusing once again! This time Majesty of the Seas! Went from Epic to mini! On majesty...have you ever said on that ship? Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raining cats and dogs Posted August 22, 2015 #524 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Delighted to get feedback from such a sage veteran of these boards. As on so many things, I do agree with you about the exterior... I will say the entertainment on the Epic was the probably the best I have experienced since my westbound transatlantic on the Norway in 1997. I don't know if NCL still make those crossings special but in any case I am sure you will have a great time. Kind regards megacruiser Good Day Megacruiser, I stumbled upon your 2014 extremely informative review on NCL epic. Thank you so much for your objective review. So many people who write in to cruise critic only highlight their bad experiences, to such an extent that I even had doubts about sailing on NCL Epic. Your Epic review encouraged me to read your other reviews about the other ships. With the marvelous photos and your excellent way with words you made the ships come alive and they each showed their special personalities. I will be sailing on the Epic early in 2016 and have one question for you. After reading your tip about the sun loungers on Epic deck 18 I went to the deck plans but cannot see how the public can get to Deck 18 if they don't have a Posh or Haven access card. Do the lifts allow the public to get to deck 18 or are there specials stairs from a lower deck. I would like to be on deck 18 for the sail away from Barcelona to get a good view without to many people. Again many thanks for your marvelous reviews Kind regards Nadeen:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michigan45 Posted August 22, 2015 #525 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Only way to be on deck 18 is with special elevator key or pass. Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now