Maybe its time to Leave NCL Cruise Critic for a while.

[TSUmom]

First off we loved the Epic and secondly, I find I am always better off just ignoring negative posts and look for the positive ones. Life in general is better without negativity. Is the Epic perfect, probably not but any cruise can be fabulous if you let the "bad" things go and enjoy!!

[Eleteace]

Completely agree!

 

 

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[edawn]

I think you'll have a great cruise. You seem to have a great attitude and it's your honeymoon after all. We were on the week after Thanksgiving and had a great time. I found many more positives than negatives. As advice, I'd say book the main theater shows online and book any other shows you want to see as soon as you get on board. If you're making dinner reservations, give yourself at least a hour and forty five minutes. It might not take that long but I don't like to rush a nice meal. I never had a bad tasting meal on the Epic and we ate at every restaurant. If you want a bloody Mary don't get it at the atrium bar. I don't know what they were doing to them there but they tasted like a sharpie marker smells. Get it at Osheehan's. The bartenders there were the best we found. Have a great cruise!

 

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[CruiseMGM]

Our first cruise was in 2005 with Royal Caribbean. We loved it so much and it hooked us on cruising. When I got home I read a review written by someone who had been on the very same cruise and hated everything about it. After that experience I take reviews as information sources but based on other people's preferences which are not necessarily mine.

 

Agree with this 100%! We're approaching our 3rd NCL cruise (none on the Epic) and our first NCL cruise was approached with an "it is what it is" attitude because I'd read so many poor reviews. But the itinerary and fare fit the bill. It turns out that we had a GREAT cruise and enjoyed the ship, the food, the entertainment, the ports, the views. Sure there were a few things here or there, but nothing that was a deal breaker!

 

You'll have a great time, happy honeymoon to you and your new bride! Enjoy yourselves to the utmost.

[mark290]

When you have this many complaints about a ship and the staff it really can't be ignored. There are far more negative postings than positive out there currently. Even accounting for the fact people are more likely to post a negative than a positive. Even the people on this thread that are trying to be encouraging are talking about how to deal with the shortfalls of this ship and staff.

 

I am going on the Epic in the near future. I booked because this is just a little add on trip for me. If this was a once in a life time vacation or my main vacation for the year or a big family trip then no way would I risk it on this ship. I would pick another ship or cruise line that has mostly positive, current reviews. Why risk it ?

 

I am taking the risk on this ship because it is a no lose for me. It's just my wife and I, it's a short cruise, it is in addition to our usual vacations for the year and it was so cheap. The price I am paying per night for a balcony room, $300 total for both of us, is less per night than the cost of a nice hotel room. The difference is the price of my hotel room on the Epic includes transportation, entertainment, food and all my drinks. There is no way we will

have anything less than a great time because we just want to lay on a lounger, drink, eat, she some shows and watch the ocean go by.

 

Someone pointed out that the ship sails full so it can't be bad. Practically all ships sail full all the time. This is achieved by adjusting the price. That is why I am booked on this cruise, it was a deal.

 

I have sailed on RCL, Carnival and Celebrity but this will be my first NCL cruise.

I find it interesting that it appears to me there are more complaints on the NCL boards as a whole than the other boards. I could be wrong but I've been wondering why that is.

[Lionkingrichard]

As long as they keep the warm and watered down drinks flowing all day and night I'm sure I will have a great cruise!

 

If they are cold and taste good, then it will be a awesome cruise!

[BirdTravels]

I would recommend leaving the swirl of CC.

 

We have been on the epic 6 times and would not hesitate booking another cruise on her.

 

You can find fault in anything. Have you looked a a yelp review of your absolute favorite restaurant. Some will like. Some will complain. Ignore the complaints.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[Sissaaaaaa]

Epic is a great ship! You will have a wonderful time.

[mark290]

I would recommend leaving the swirl of CC.

 

We have been on the epic 6 times and would not hesitate booking another cruise on her.

 

You can find fault in anything. Have you looked a a yelp review of your absolute favorite restaurant. Some will like. Some will complain. Ignore the complaints.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

 

If he leaves the swirl of CC he will also leave behind any tips that come up to deal with this ship. Getting to port early to limit the possibility of a nightmare check in, tender tickets as soon as you can, reserve shows and restaurants, use a porter to disembark.....

[thistimeplease]

I know exactly what the OP means. My dh and I always wanted to cruise on a mega ship so I read the reviews (most not good) and decided we'd give the BA to Bermuda a try. I took into account the bad reviews and since we were traveling in the summer was afraid the ship would be unbelievably crowded and booked a extra large balcony. What a surprise this trip was, we loved the ship and cruise so much we are already booked again for this summer. The ship never felt crowded to us, food and service great, we had a wonderful time. Don't let the bad reviews scare you, people are odd and some go looking to find problems and when they do come back here to post about it. Have a great trip.

[GoAndHaveFun]

I think you are probably right to step away.

 

As I type this, thousands of people are on NCL ships having fun. They just don't come running on here to tell you about it.

 

 

This is so true! When I was on my 14 day cruise on the Star in Asia (the one with the revised itinerary), I was having so much fun that I never even came here to post about the cruise so far. My first post about the cruise was when I first arrived in Singapore.

[pepsiguy]

Going on our 13th cruise on NCL in March. It all boils down to your cruise is what you make of it. All the ships are pretty full each sailing....NCL can't be doing that bad a job. We love sailing on NCL. Have a great time and congrats on your marriage.

[asubaru]

My thoughts exactly.

 

I think the key to a satisfying CC experience is about how you interpret what you read. The more you read, the better you will be able to decipher what is legit and what is BS. You get to "know" posters; ie, chronic whiners vs legit complaints. Then there's the forever bashers vs the cheerleaders. Then there's the posters who post incorrect info. Then there's the residents who "live" online and relish the drama threads. They keep posting their pearls of wisdom ad nauseam!

 

After taking a step back years ago, I decided to skip and sift through these boards while not getting caught up in negativity, debates, drama and the like. I have gained a wealth of knowledge due to CC since the 90's. I have tried to give back some, too. There is no doubt in my mind that CC is the best cruise forum, even if it is far from perfect. It has enhanced my cruise experiences on every cruise I have taken. I welcome complaints and rarely look at it as nitpicking. They are subjective comments and I realize I may not experience the same but, the plus is that in many cases, I will be aware of potential issues.

 

My advice is to sift and skip :-) Many of the posters on here are very knowledgeable and helpful. It's easy to misinterpret ......ASK questions. Ignore the BS, enjoy the research, planning and excitement. keep in mind, your cruise will be unique in that your fellow passengers will be unlike no other.

 

Oh, and I love the Epic! My favorite casino, spa and Haven at sea. I have also cruised in a balcony and preferred the bathroom set up that many don't like and/or complain about. So, all though I may can be prepared, I am always surprised by something.

 

One thing no one can prepare for is who you will be cruising with; may have wonderful/considerate passengers, or the PITA people/groups. There are many legit complaints but it doesn't mean you will experience the same (or react the same:-) Either way, it's all about how one adjusts and finds enjoyment...especially in adversity.

 

OP, keep reading and researching.....it almost guarantees a great cruise!

 

 

If he leaves the swirl of CC he will also leave behind any tips that come up to deal with this ship. Getting to port early to limit the possibility of a nightmare check in, tender tickets as soon as you can, reserve shows and restaurants, use a porter to disembark.....

[cv322]

Some people are just chronic complainers...and it's best for one's sanity to not read sometimes. I've been on this site for 11+ years & am astonished sometimes by what people write! It's gotten worse lately I think :cool:...way too much rudeness & thoughtlessness & snarkiness.

 

Go & enjoy ;):D...I'm sure you'll have an amazing time. And wishing you much happiness upon your marriage.

Edited January 13, 2017 by cv322

[Harrier1961]

If he leaves the swirl of CC he will also leave behind any tips that come up to deal with this ship. Getting to port early to limit the possibility of a nightmare check in, tender tickets as soon as you can, reserve shows and restaurants, use a porter to disembark.....

 

To be honest, plenty of people cruise without even knowing about CC and they still enjoy their vacation.

I really haven't gotten any tips from CC that made my cruise better.

I didn't even know CC existed for the first several cruises.

 

:-)

[sfaaa]

Internet including CC is just a form of positive and negative free entertainment. That's it. You don't watch a TV drama or comedy show and let it get into your head. Why would you do it here? Just read, flush and repeat the same process over and over again. That's all there is to it.

[Crusin6]

It's called cruise critic

 

 

Critic can mean good or can mean bad

 

As in movie critic or critique

 

 

There is no reason to expect this website to be your "safe place" and only read about the great things....

 

 

 

Just stop reading this website and that should solve your problem

 

 

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[NCLfamily]

The CC NCL page has become a Haven (pun intended) for haters. When I signed up I loved it on here, now it's the same faces saying the same old ****.

 

 

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[ShannonSC2]

We sailed on the EPIC a few years ago. I had read so many bad postings about the ship (things about the rooms, food, staff, etc). I was a little worried about what I had gotten myself into.

 

I walked on the ship and from the time I walked on until we left we had the best experience. I had decided that no matter what I had read I was going to form my own opinion. The staff was amazing always speaking, calling us by name, etc.

 

The food was amazing. It was nothing that I had read.

 

I think a lot of people are more quick to post the negative experiences instead of the positive experiences. Go into your trip with a clear mind, putting all the things you have read behind you. Every ship isn't perfect.

 

(I have read some cruises being amazing and they were the worse experiences ever)

 

Have a great time and enjoy your trip!

[LauraS]

Have you read my annual "Welcome to Wave Season 2017" Message to the community?

[CasinoCruzGirl]

A cruise is what you make of it. Don't sweat the small stuff and you will have a fabulous honeymoon

[Richpontone]

1. Go to your Roll Call CC Meet and Greet usually held on the first Sea Day of your cruise.

2. Get the Name and phone extension of your Cruise's Hotel Director at this meeting.

3. Establish a personal relationship with your Cabin Steward. If you have a cabin complaint, go to him or her first.

4. If you don't get resolution of your problem, with him or her, immediately, call the Hotel Director. You will definitely get an immediate solution. Identify yourself as a member of Cruise Critics.

5. Never go to the front desk except if you have a problem with your bill.

6. Remember Norwegian is a budget cruise line and so the food that is served is really not better than cafeteria food. If you want better then go to a luxury cruise line which charges double what you are paying at Norwegian.

7. Go to sit down restaurants where you are served. Food may not be better than the buffet but being served and you having meaningful conversations with your loved ones will definitely improve your dining experience.

8. Be courteous and polite to others and don't run or rush through the passageways, as there are many other passengers who can not run or walk as fast as you. Your cruise experience will be more pleasant.

Edited January 14, 2017 by Richpontone

[luckyinpa]

Have you read my annual "Welcome to Wave Season 2017" Message to the community?

 

you need to force everyone to read that post before they can use your site anymore and attest to such in blood before proceeding to respond to any threads :)

[Sissaaaaaa]

The CC NCL page has become a Haven (pun intended) for haters. When I signed up I loved it on here, now it's the same faces saying the same old ****.

 

 

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You truly are not kidding. I've been a member of this forum since it was a message board on AOL. A loooooong time. While there have been many changes, screen name changes :cool: , and people have come and gone, it does seem to have become a hate filled place in the last couple of years.