epic shower

[jo anne]

:confused:looking at epic photos it looks like you can see into shower and toilet also you are straight into room from the shower nowhere for towel as i`m sharing with my grand daughter if this is true it wouldn`t really be suitable maybe i`m wrong, hope so as ship looks great . can anyone let me know. thankyou

[Philly Steve]

I understand the shower door in studio cabins is made of frosted glass. The toilet is behind a regular door. There was a travel article on these shared living room Epic cabins in today's "Philadelphia Inquirer."

[TrikeRider]

That is why I cancelled my booking on the Epic. I need to get a first hand review from someone on this board who will have sailed on this ship before I will book it again.

[time2cruise1]

:confused:looking at epic photos it looks like you can see into shower and toilet also you are straight into room from the shower nowhere for towel as i`m sharing with my grand daughter if this is true it wouldn`t really be suitable maybe i`m wrong, hope so as ship looks great . can anyone let me know. thankyou

Yes but there is a privacy curtain that separates that section of the cabin from the main living area.

[jo anne]

thankyou for answers is it only the studio ones i thought all the inside ones were the same but if a curtain seperates it wouldnt be so bad but i done think I like the idea at all . thanks again for help:D

[time2cruise1]

thankyou for answers is it only the studio ones i thought all the inside ones were the same but if a curtain seperates it wouldnt be so bad but i done think I like the idea at all . thanks again for help:D

This rendering on an inside cabin shows the track in the ceiling for the curtain.


http://www.ncl.com/csimages/523/993/Epic_Inside_rendering_web.jpg

[nccruiser47]

I was ready to book a future cruise on Epic until I saw this layout! I just don't like the frosted glass thing........and wonder if others in the room need to get in and out......what good does the curtain do? I'm sorry, but what were they thinking??

[fridaythe13th]

Is that the shower in front of the toilet? The curtain track would be on the wrong side if so. If its not the shower is it the sink? It certainly is "different".

[scchasgal]

Is that the shower in front of the toilet? The curtain track would be on the wrong side if so. If its not the shower is it the sink? It certainly is "different".

Look like the Epic is being set up for couples only:D

[*Wink*]

Look like the Epic is being set up for couples only:D
LOL! Cute.

I could be wrong, but I think they opted for a more European design in a cabin. I mean, the ship was built in France, right? And most of us are familiar with the rhyme, "I see London, I see France..." :D

Some European hotels have this kind of setup.

I'm sure they will have it so you can have some privacy, one way or another. But if not.. Hope you like your Birthday Suits!

[njhorseman]

LOL! Cute.

I could be wrong, but I think they opted for a more European design in a cabin. I mean, the ship was built in France, right? And most of us are familiar with the rhyme, "I see London, I see France..." :D

Some European hotels have this kind of setup.

I'm sure they will have it so you can have some privacy, one way or another. But if not.. Hope you like your Birthday Suits!


Sounds like you better be a "regular" Cruise Critic poster if you book one of these rooms. :D

[scchasgal]

LOL! Cute.

I could be wrong, but I think they opted for a more European design in a cabin. I mean, the ship was built in France, right? And most of us are familiar with the rhyme, "I see London, I see France..." :D

Some European hotels have this kind of setup.

I'm sure they will have it so you can have some privacy, one way or another. But if not.. Hope you like your Birthday Suits!

or like your spouse still

[bakerintn]

This rendering on an inside cabin shows the track in the ceiling for the curtain.


http://www.ncl.com/csimages/523/993/Epic_Inside_rendering_web.jpg

I don't see a curtain track.. The curved thing in the ceiling is I believe a domed ceiling with lighting. And...this is a step up from the Studio cabin level, too.

[*Wink*]

Is that the shower in front of the toilet? The curtain track would be on the wrong side if so. If its not the shower is it the sink? It certainly is "different".
From what I understand, the shower is the tall blue area on the left side of the cabin. It's across from the toilet. That's another thing Epic's done. Separated the shower, toilet and sink from each other in many of their cabins.

You can see some towel hooks on the shower door in the rendering. And I think the shower wall is opaque enough that you can't see through it.
The closet is right in front of the toilet. It has a mirrored door.

But I agree with time2cruise1 about there being a privacy curtain.

[fridaythe13th]

I don't see a curtain track.. The curved thing in the ceiling is I believe a domed ceiling with lighting. And...this is a step up from the Studio cabin level, too.

See the dark floor between the toilet and shower, above that is what I thought was the curtain track and it follows the pattern on the floor. ????

[OceanDreaming2]

And the sink is outside the bath area - it's in the counter/desk thing.

[CanadianTwosome]

Do people honestly shower and then completely dry off and dress before exiting the bathrooms in 'regular' cabins? I can't even imagine that. Once my shower is done, I grab a towel and get out of that tiny space and away from the steam and moisture - otherwise I feel like I'm getting all sweaty and need another shower!! I also HATE HATE HATE to enter the bathroom when someone else is showering and making steam. I don't even like to go in my own bathroom at home during or immediately after someone's shower or hot bath (including my own) - and it's got much better ventilation!

As for modesty, I can't imagine wanting to go on a vacation and share a cabin on a cruise ship with anyone I wasn't comfortable around in a robe at least. For those who are uncomfortable with the idea of your travelling companions seeing you in a state of undress... are you planning to wear a bathing suit by the pool?

My mother is travelling with us on the Epic. She'll be sharing a balcony cabin with me, my daughter, and my husband. The four of us stayed in an inside cabin together on the Dream a couple of years ago as well, and we had no issues whatsoever. I don't expect any issues on the Epic either. We'll be four adult-sized people in a cabin, sharing the space, sharing the shower, sharing the sink, sharing the toilet... from my perspective having all of those things separated will be FANTASTIC. My mom will be able to brush her teeth while my husband is in the shower - and vice versa.

Even if people just simply cannot shower if there is a chance that someone might catch the slightest glimpse of their bare skin, is it really so difficult to just respect each other? Face the wall and read while your companion changes - or go up on deck! Regardless of whom I was travelling with, if they requested privacy, I would be happy to head up on deck while they showered, dressed, or whatever. Since I also absolutely believe that the squiggly line visible on the cabin layouts is a privacy curtain, the only real compromise a cabin-mate would have to make is to promise not to open the door to the corridor for a few minutes before and after the shower when there's a chance of exposure.

I find it amazing that this is such a deal breaker for so many people. Please don't get me wrong, I completely respect anyone's decision to book or not book based on any criteria they want. It's just that I'm actually very much looking forward to this new design - I feel like I've had to 'endure' tiny cramped steamy bathrooms on every other cruise, so it's hard for me to understand why this is such a big deal that people wouldn't just make a few compromises to be able to 'endure' it and enjoy the Epic.

[sjbdtz]

Do people honestly shower and then completely dry off and dress before exiting the bathrooms in 'regular' cabins? I can't even imagine that. Once my shower is done, I grab a towel and get out of that tiny space and away from the steam and moisture - otherwise I feel like I'm getting all sweaty and need another shower!! I also HATE HATE HATE to enter the bathroom when someone else is showering and making steam. I don't even like to go in my own bathroom at home during or immediately after someone's shower or hot bath (including my own) - and it's got much better ventilation!

As for modesty, I can't imagine wanting to go on a vacation and share a cabin on a cruise ship with anyone I wasn't comfortable around in a robe at least. For those who are uncomfortable with the idea of your travelling companions seeing you in a state of undress... are you planning to wear a bathing suit by the pool?

My mother is travelling with us on the Epic. She'll be sharing a balcony cabin with me, my daughter, and my husband. The four of us stayed in an inside cabin together on the Dream a couple of years ago as well, and we had no issues whatsoever. I don't expect any issues on the Epic either. We'll be four adult-sized people in a cabin, sharing the space, sharing the shower, sharing the sink, sharing the toilet... from my perspective having all of those things separated will be FANTASTIC. My mom will be able to brush her teeth while my husband is in the shower - and vice versa.

Even if people just simply cannot shower if there is a chance that someone might catch the slightest glimpse of their bare skin, is it really so difficult to just respect each other? Face the wall and read while your companion changes - or go up on deck! Regardless of whom I was travelling with, if they requested privacy, I would be happy to head up on deck while they showered, dressed, or whatever. Since I also absolutely believe that the squiggly line visible on the cabin layouts is a privacy curtain, the only real compromise a cabin-mate would have to make is to promise not to open the door to the corridor for a few minutes before and after the shower when there's a chance of exposure.

I find it amazing that this is such a deal breaker for so many people. Please don't get me wrong, I completely respect anyone's decision to book or not book based on any criteria they want. It's just that I'm actually very much looking forward to this new design - I feel like I've had to 'endure' tiny cramped steamy bathrooms on every other cruise, so it's hard for me to understand why this is such a big deal that people wouldn't just make a few compromises to be able to 'endure' it and enjoy the Epic.


CT....what is is about you? :confused: Are you channeling the logic gods? :confused: So many of your posts just make so much sense, and really spotlight the silliness of some. :cool:

Thank you for helping clear-up the nonsense. :)

[sverigecruiser]

LOL! Cute.

I could be wrong, but I think they opted for a more European design in a cabin. I mean, the ship was built in France, right? And most of us are familiar with the rhyme, "I see London, I see France..." :D

Some European hotels have this kind of setup.

I'm sure they will have it so you can have some privacy, one way or another. But if not.. Hope you like your Birthday Suits!

It's defenitely NOT a European design! I have stayed in a lots of hotels in Europe and North America and a few times the layout of the room has been like on the Epic, when it has happened I have always been in America!

[*Wink*]

It's defenitely NOT a European design! I have stayed in a lots of hotels in Europe and North America and a few times the layout of the room has been like on the Epic, when it has happened I have always been in America!
Huh.. well if you do a search of Amsterdam hotels on Tripadvisor, you'll see some. I've stayed in hotels in Europe too and although they had "normal" shower setups, the only time I've seen a shower such as Epic's was in Europe.

I've stayed in a lot of American hotels too, and although I believe you about America having showers like this, I've never seen one or read about one.

But I could be wrong about it being a European design (which I stated in my original post) and it's certainly not worth getting into a pissing match over.

[pokeypoke]

I really don't have an issue with the layout design of the cabins.As another poster stated, I do not bring my clothes into the bathroom, take a hot shower and then get immediately dressed. If I am going to be traveling with someone other than my partner (like my mother or sister), chances are that we are going to be getting ready around the same time. I would simply take my shower first then wear a robe. While the other person is in the shower, I would then get dressed and leave while the other person is getting dressed.

I thought I had read or someone told me one of the reasons the cabins were designed this way is to make the cabin appear much larger and open than a typical ship cabin.

I do respect those who would feel uncomfortable with the Epic's cabin design but uit's not like you are going to be in your room the entire time taking showers all day.

[mianmike]

At first blush, the design flaw appears to be front door ingress and egress for others when someone in the common area (between the toilet and shower) and is in a state of nakedness. As an example, if one were to exit the steamy shower to dry off in the common area and suddenly an unsuspecting forgetful teenager doesn't knock and bursts in the front door . . . well . . . it should be interesting . . . and for those teenager friends standing in the hallway? What kind of show do they get? :eek:

Note to self: There may be a reason lots of teenage boys are spending an awful lot of time trolling the hallways. :o

[sverigecruiser]

Huh.. well if you do a search of Amsterdam hotels on Tripadvisor, you'll see some. I've stayed in hotels in Europe too and although they had "normal" shower setups, the only time I've seen a shower such as Epic's was in Europe.

I've stayed in a lot of American hotels too, and although I believe you about America having showers like this, I've never seen one or read about one.

But I could be wrong about it being a European design (which I stated in my original post) and it's certainly not worth getting into a pissing match over.

I have no interest in getting into a pissing match either so that was not the reason to write that post. I just wanted to tell you that it's not a European design. I'm sure that the stupid Epic layout can be found at hotels both in Europe and in the US and that doesn't make it an European Design or an American design.

[CanadianTwosome]

At first blush, the design flaw appears to be front door ingress and egress for others when someone in the common area (between the toilet and shower) and is in a state of nakedness. As an example, if one were to exit the steamy shower to dry off in the common area and suddenly an unsuspecting forgetful teenager doesn't knock and bursts in the front door . . . well . . . it should be interesting . . . and for those teenager friends standing in the hallway? What kind of show do they get? :eek:

Note to self: There may be a reason lots of teenage boys are spending an awful lot of time trolling the hallways. :o

Having never stayed in a villa or even a suite, I have never sailed in a cabin where I couldn't have been caught naked by someone thoughtlessly throwing open the door. That being said, if my daughter ever just threw the cabin door open without consideration for anyone that might be inside, there would be consequences - especially if someone else was concerned about privacy. If it was an issue for anyone in the cabin, I would think it would be discussed at the beginning of the cruise - and if kids were so disrespectful and inconsiderate that they would still not take care when opening the door, I think their parents would have a much bigger problem than having someone catch a glimpse of skin. :eek:

On a bit of a side note, doors that open 'in' should never be flung open without checking. A friend of mine had her finger broken once when she reached for a doorknob just as someone else threw the door open. Sitting in emerg rather than at a movie really gave me a chance to learn something that evening... :cool:

[gtalum]

At first blush, the design flaw appears to be front door ingress and egress for others when someone in the common area (between the toilet and shower) and is in a state of nakedness. As an example, if one were to exit the steamy shower to dry off in the common area and suddenly an unsuspecting forgetful teenager doesn't knock and bursts in the front door . . . well . . . it should be interesting . . .

The doors have a deadbolt that won't open with the room key. Just throw it when you're changing clothes there.

I too don't get the uproar over this layout. People really do fear change.

[mianmike]

The doors have a deadbolt that won't open with the room key. Just throw it when you're changing clothes there.

I too don't get the uproar over this layout. People really do fear change.

I wouldn't characterize my dislike of the bathroom design as "uproar" and I generally like change. I'm looking forward to our Epic cruise. :D

One solution is to put the room on lock-down until everyone is showered and changed. For a family of four, this will only require a little pre-planning so everyone agrees when to be in the room for family shower time. Not much "freestyle" when it comes to showering, but at least the room across the hallway with the open door doesn't see anything they don't want to see.

The other solution is "freestyle" showering where everyone showers whenever they feel like it and those wanting back in the room during a freestle shower/changing session can just wait in the hallway. Simple. ;)

[CanadianTwosome]

I wouldn't characterize my dislike of the bathroom design as "uproar" and I generally like change. I'm looking forward to our Epic cruise. :D

One solution is to put the room on lock-down until everyone is showered and changed. For a family of four, this will only require a little pre-planning so everyone agrees when to be in the room for family shower time. Not much "freestyle" when it comes to showering, but at least the room across the hallway with the open door doesn't see anything they don't want to see.

The other solution is "freestyle" showering where everyone showers whenever they feel like it and those wanting back in the room during a freestle shower/changing session can just wait in the hallway. Simple. ;)

I think the 'uproar' that Gtalum was referring to was what I was talking about in a prior post - that people are actually choosing not to sail on the Epic because of this cabin set up. Obviously you're more like me - in the same way I 'put up with' the regular bathroom situation, you're willing to 'put up with' this new design.

There are all kinds of solutions for anyone who is concerned about privacy in the new set up. (though I still think it's not much different than the 'regular' cabin situation) It'll be pretty simple for anyone who actually cares about the people they're travelling with. :)

Something I do think is funny about the fear of someone seeing you in your cabin is that in all the cruises I've enjoyed (7), I don't ever remember opening my cabin door and having a stranger see in... there's just not that much traffic - and the corridors and doors are both so narrow that when you stand in front of the door to open it, not only do people tend to wait until you're out of the way, but an average sized person blocks the doorway and obscures the view anyway.

[dtracker]

The bathroom set up is but one of several reasons I would choose not to sail on the Epic. But to each their own, I always say! ;)

DT

[Giorgi-one]

We are booked on Epic in an SA suite so bathroom problem is not as bad. However, I still cannot figure out why NCL would chose a design where you walk out of the shower directly into the cabin. Obviously, there are many people who do not like this configuration and will not sail on Epic. Why would a cruise line choose a design which eliminates part of their potential client pool? Have you ever heard anyone say they would not sail on the Jewel or any other ship because of the bathroom layout. Maybe some complained it was too small but we all feel that way about every ship - unless you book a large suite.

[sjbdtz]

We are booked on Epic in an SA suite so bathroom problem is not as bad. However, I still cannot figure out why NCL would chose a design where you walk out of the shower directly into the cabin. Obviously, there are many people who do not like this configuration and will not sail on Epic. Why would a cruise line choose a design which eliminates part of their potential client pool? Have you ever heard anyone say they would not sail on the Jewel or any other ship because of the bathroom layout. Maybe some complained it was too small but we all feel that way about every ship - unless you book a large suite.

what amazes me is that it's SUCH an easy fix... in the SA, for instance...there's a curtain separating the bed / balcony / living area from the WET area.... yet the wet area is open to the hallway door...so you can't ask the butler to bring in champagne and serve the other person while you dry off.... but a simple curtain from the hallway to the bed-curtain (creating a sectioned-off wet area) would solve the problem.

You'd be able to come & go from the cabin without disturbing the naked wet person. :)

[indimini]

http://photos.cruisecritic.com/data/521/room_compare.png
Just for grins, I grabbed floor plans from the Epic site for a wave balcony room vs. a BA on the Pearl.

To me, it looks like the space in the Pearl's bathroom area is surrounded by a hard wall vs. a curtain on the Epic, but the Pearl's WC, sink and shower are not necessarily easily shared. While Epic lacks a hard wall between the three areas, it definitely makes it more practical for two or three people to share facilities at the same time, especially using the WC and sink for example. Only first-hand feedback from cruisers will show which is the better design. Personally, I think Epic's is a logical approach to sharing facilities.

[AFT_LOVER]

so we got a $800 balcony for Sept 2010, far from grand opening & not too grouped to be perfect as many premieres had on other cruiselines. It is a BH & 6 upgrades to a BA for free. Great deal with the Procrastinators Lose Out deals for 2010 & 2011. We were just offered a Spa Balcony for December for $216 more on 14. No packed hot tubs with drunks. The hot beds are wonderful. So that is worth the $108 PP extra since a week pass at the spa is more than that. If the price falls by Dec 2010, we get it and if NCL wants to upgrade again by December to make room for cheaper Spa Balconies our PCC will get us the SPA SUITE!

Dollar stores have a baggie of plastic hooks that have a suction cup on the end. The clerk told us to wet the cup and it will stick to a glass door for weeks or til you pull it off. It will hold a terry robe, so you reach out to get it when done with a shower, unless there is a true storage area in the room next to the shower. Great to dry out wet swimsuites or washed clothes, so I got a $5 pack of 10 of them. Then as you step out of the glass door room, you reach up to the pull with you curtain that keeps you private to the sink & toilet.

Now to find a sale for August/September for dirt cheap.

[TrikeRider]

http://photos.cruisecritic.com/data/521/room_compare.png
<<<removed>>>>



Do you know if there IS a curtain there or just assuming there is one?

[CanadianTwosome]

Do you know if there IS a curtain there or just assuming there is one?

I actually think the diagram is a bit 'off'... I think the curtain is represented by the 'squiggly line' beside the shower - meaning that the sink is not hidden from the rest of the cabin. It may also provide for the opening of the door to the toilet without disturbing the 'private area' too much.

I can't wait to be able to use the toilet, wash my hands, and brush my teeth whenever I want without having to worry about my clothes sticking to me because of someone's shower steam! :)

[indimini]

Ah, good catch CanadianTwosome! You're probably right - the thing I circled may just be showing the tile vs. carpet in the cabin. The squiggly line that is the curtain would then allow the sink to be in the main cabin while the shower, WC are blocked off -- even better. I edited my picture to reflect that point.

[PangeanSir]

CT....what is is about you? :confused: Are you channeling the logic gods? :confused: So many of your posts just make so much sense, and really spotlight the silliness of some. :cool:

Thank you for helping clear-up the nonsense. :)

I think its her Canadianess showing through....

P>

[CanadianTwosome]

I think its her Canadianess showing through....

P>

Oh, how I wish it were true!! If all Canadians thought like me, we'd rule the world!! ha ha ha ha ha Okay, maybe not... but at least a lot fewer people would think I'm a geek... :p

[TrikeRider]

I do hope there is a curtain - I want to sail on this ship some day.

[sjbdtz]

I do hope there is a curtain - I want to sail on this ship some day.

Wow, this ship IS going to be EPIC. She's not even fully built yet, and already she's getting curtain calls!!!!! ;)

[CanadianTwosome]

Wow, this ship IS going to be EPIC. She's not even fully built yet, and already she's getting curtain calls!!!!! ;)

:p hee hee hee

[TrikeRider]

Looking at the deck plans, I may have to book a garden villa so I don't have to worry about there being a curtain or not. :D

[time2cruise1]

Looking at the deck plans, I may have to book a garden villa so I don't have to worry about there being a curtain or not. :D

The Garden Villa should work. To bad no GVs on the Epic :D

[CruisinMatt]

It's going to be VERY interesting how people actually react to these layouts once they start cruising. It's true, people have a hard time embracing change. Call it American, but most of us do like our privacy, and this layout definitely flirts with it.

Then again, I'm not the type to book an inside cabin for 4.

[TrikeRider]

The Garden Villa should work. To bad no GVs on the Epic :D

I knew I made a mistake long after I could edit my post. :p I may do a Courtyard Villa - I think the Epic has a few.

[AFT_LOVER]

Teens as well as friends will learn how to knock on the door to gain entrance.

So no surprise visits.


Having never stayed in a villa or even a suite, I have never sailed in a cabin where I couldn't have been caught naked by someone thoughtlessly throwing open the door. That being said, if my daughter ever just threw the cabin door open without consideration for anyone that might be inside, there would be consequences - especially if someone else was concerned about privacy. If it was an issue for anyone in the cabin, I would think it would be discussed at the beginning of the cruise - and if kids were so disrespectful and inconsiderate that they would still not take care when opening the door, I think their parents would have a much bigger problem than having someone catch a glimpse of skin. :eek:

On a bit of a side note, doors that open 'in' should never be flung open without checking. A friend of mine had her finger broken once when she reached for a doorknob just as someone else threw the door open. Sitting in emerg rather than at a movie really gave me a chance to learn something that evening... :cool:

[AFT_LOVER]

As we just got upgraded to a new date on Epic 12/11/10, which I felt very special with our 30th anniversary & a countdown date. Those booked earlier may be upgraded also to a new date, maybe with us.

With the money we saved, we booked 12/6/09 W Car on Jewel in a BA AFT that just opened. My PCC called asking if we wanted it. Then we booked air with miles & got 22,500 each way for FC. No baggage fee either for FC. So husband used his 90K miles for us to get this great cruise instead of waiting 15 months. Delta has taken over NWA who got all our Delta miles at twice the amount awarded to us. So we fly free. I will do FC for Epic in 2010 with my miles.

Then my PCC states a new note on our Balcony Spa, we get a bathtub. I asked her to visit the site for Madera Spa & it shows both spa suite & balcony spa with one person jacuzzi by the window next to the door at the foot of a circular bed. She told me that is what we get! I told her that is a bathtub that I want.

[AFT_LOVER]

You enter your balcony stateroom - to the left is the frosted glass shower room. To the right is a wood door that is the toilet room, next to the toilet room is the sink with a counter next to that for what I called a WET BAR for pop, booze, ice, glassware. It is also used for brushing teeth.

Then look up and at the shower you will see a curtain pull out of the wall ad run across the ceiling to the sink. That is privacy area for folks out of shower to get dressed with no one coming in seeing them or going under the curtain. The door has a deadbolt on it that shoud be used when you are showering to keep folks out. If door is knocked and you answer then they get in, if not then they wait to enter.

Hope that helped.

Is that the shower in front of the toilet? The curtain track would be on the wrong side if so. If its not the shower is it the sink? It certainly is "different".

[sjbdtz]

As we just got upgraded to a new date on Epic 12/11/10, which I felt very special with our 30th anniversary & a countdown date. Those booked earlier may be upgraded also to a new date, maybe with us.

With the money we saved, we booked 12/6/09 W Car on Jewel in a BA AFT that just opened. My PCC called asking if we wanted it. Then we booked air with miles & got 22,500 each way for FC. No baggage fee either for FC. So husband used his 90K miles for us to get this great cruise instead of waiting 15 months. Delta has taken over NWA who got all our Delta miles at twice the amount awarded to us. So we fly free. I will do FC for Epic in 2010 with my miles.

Then my PCC states a new note on our Balcony Spa, we get a bathtub. I asked her to visit the site for Madera Spa & it shows both spa suite & balcony spa with one person jacuzzi by the window next to the door at the foot of a circular bed. She told me that is what we get! I told her that is a bathtub that I want.

Can you try this message again in Human Terms too? I've read & re-read...and I don't get it.

what's FC?
Spa Suite looks like larger than 1 person jacuzzi.
What do you mean you got "upgraded to a new date"? Why? How? When? Where / Who?

Huh?

[pokeypoke]

As we just got upgraded to a new date on Epic 12/11/10, which I felt very special with our 30th anniversary & a countdown date. Those booked earlier may be upgraded also to a new date, maybe with us.

:confused: What do you mean by you were upgraded a "new date". Please explain for dummies like me.

[AFT_LOVER]

so that is a new date. Prices fell with a DMPP6 promo so PCC doing her great job gets us better for less, just as NWA miles with 30,000 coach vs 22,500 for FC for air.


:confused: What do you mean by you were upgraded a "new date". Please explain for dummies like me.

[sjbdtz]

so that is a new date. Prices fell with a DMPP6 promo so PCC doing her great job gets us better for less, just as NWA miles with 30,000 coach vs 22,500 for FC for air.


OH.... so what you mean is that you learned that Off-Season is cheaper than in-season....and you re-booked off-season.

That makes more sense now. And now that you put in context, I see that FC = First Class.


An upgrade is when you get the same ship, same date....same (or better) cabin....for less.

That's why we were confused.

[Anton]

What about the issue of using the toilet and then having to open the door to get to the sink to wash hands? For some of us germophobes that is a problem.

[pcreek]

What about the issue of using the toilet and then having to open the door to get to the sink to wash hands? For some of us germophobes that is a problem.

Either leave the door unlatched and 'hip' it open....or use toliet paper to open door.

No big deal....not like it's a public restroom in your cabin :)

[sverigecruiser]

What about the issue of using the toilet and then having to open the door to get to the sink to wash hands? For some of us germophobes that is a problem.

I don't like that either and my number one concern about it is that I'm sure that some passengers will forget to wash their hands when there is no sink in the same room as the toilet!

[Beanie01]

It's going to be VERY interesting how people actually react to these layouts once they start cruising. It's true, people have a hard time embracing change. Call it American, but most of us do like our privacy, and this layout definitely flirts with it.

Then again, I'm not the type to book an inside cabin for 4.


Just wanted to say hello to someone in Deerfield Beach. I'm in Coconut Creek! Sample and Lyons!

[Anton]

Either leave the door unlatched and 'hip' it open....or use toliet paper to open door.

No big deal....not like it's a public restroom in your cabin :)

Well, actually it is like having a public bathroom stall in the cabin if I have to do as you suggest.

[pokeypoke]

What about the issue of using the toilet and then having to open the door to get to the sink to wash hands? For some of us germophobes that is a problem.

Not trying to be a smart-ass or something to that degree but does it really matter if the sink is in or outside of the toilet area? For every person who washes their hands after using the restroom, there is a person who DOESN"T wash their hands:eek:! I can't count how many times I have seen people leave a restroom WITHOUT washing their hands! I always try to carry a small bottle of sanitizer with me for when I open doors or use a shopping cart. My suggestion would be to sanitize the door at the begining of your trip and keep some sanitizer wipes in the water closet for the duration of your trip.

[AFT_LOVER]

Just spray everything with it to kill the bad stuff & get a great fragrance also. Sure is better than the wipes that spread the bad stuff when you overuse a wipe recontanminating areas that needed 4 wipes to disinfect.

Not trying to be a smart-ass or something to that degree but does it really matter if the sink is in or outside of the toilet area? For every person who washes their hands after using the restroom, there is a person who DOESN"T wash their hands:eek:! I can't count how many times I have seen people leave a restroom WITHOUT washing their hands! I always try to carry a small bottle of sanitizer with me for when I open doors or use a shopping cart. My suggestion would be to sanitize the door at the begining of your trip and keep some sanitizer wipes in the water closet for the duration of your trip.

[CruisinMatt]

duplicate

[CruisinMatt]

Just wanted to say hello to someone in Deerfield Beach. I'm in Coconut Creek! Sample and Lyons!

Hi neighbor! SW 10th and Powerline here!

[Beanie01]

Hi neighbor! SW 10th and Powerline here!

Have you booked the Epic yet? My sister and I are booked for 9/25/10. I have my eye on the Epic Plunge and the climbing cage. Inside for $599, +$100 OBC. I figure if we didn't put the deposit down now, we'll never see this price again. Later, it goes up to $800 to start! In the meanwhile, looking forward to RC's Liberty of the Seas this year on 10/10.

I'm really not worried about the whole shower thing. So I'll dry off in the stall (I'm sure there's a towel hook), then put my nighty on until it's time to get dressed.

[Boston and beyond cruiser]

Just tossing this out there, but on the diagram showing the privacy curtain, the track on the floor is waaaaay away from the curtain. I don't think that is a track for the curtain but rather (like someone previously said) a wavy decorative ceiling with recessed lighting.

If I had to guess, I'd say the privacy curtain is going to cover the door to the shower only - not go across the room at all. I could be wrong, but that's my educated (?) guess.

[Anton]

Not trying to be a smart-ass or something to that degree

Well, not much of one anyway.

but does it really matter if the sink is in or outside of the toilet area? For every person who washes their hands after using the restroom, there is a person who DOESN"T wash their hands! I can't count how many times I have seen people leave a restroom WITHOUT washing their hands!

My point is that I shouldn't have to resort to public restroom protocols when using a toilet in my own cabin, yet the Epic layout will make it so. Granted it will not be as significant an issue, but it still exists. The reality for NCL is that I will not be booking a cabin on the Epic, and rightly or wrongly it will be due to the cabin design. And I am not alone.

[sjbdtz]

Well, not much of one anyway.



My point is that I shouldn't have to resort to public restroom protocols when using a toilet in my own cabin, yet the Epic layout will make it so. Granted it will not be as significant an issue, but it still exists. The reality for NCL is that I will not be booking a cabin on the Epic, and rightly or wrongly it will be due to the cabin design. And I am not alone.

Just curious (well...no...I'm not..but...) do you ever turn on the tap at home to wash your hands after using the facilities?

Surely germophobes must have automated water dispensing in their bathrooms at home...the sink taps would be the worst....germs exist prior to turning them on. You wash and eliminate germs...then turn the taps back off...re-establishing the germ/hand connection.

[pokeypoke]

My point is that I shouldn't have to resort to public restroom protocols when using a toilet in my own cabin, yet the Epic layout will make it so. Granted it will not be as significant an issue, but it still exists. The reality for NCL is that I will not be booking a cabin on the Epic, and rightly or wrongly it will be due to the cabin design. And I am not alone.

I see your point Anton but my point is the people who use the cabin the week before you use it (let's say you are in a standard bathroom setup with a toilet, shower and sink all together in a seperate room) and THOSE people never washed their hands, the door to the bathroom (along with everything else in the room) is going to be a germ fest. If you wash your hands, you still have to touch the door to get out of the bathroom. Yes, you can sterilize the door but you can do the same thing with a toilet that is seperate from the sink. So again I ask, what difference would it make if the sink was in or outside of the toilet? Either way, you or someone else is going to touch the door handle. Personally, I wouldn't rule out sailing the Epic just because of this.

[pokeypoke]

Just curious (well...no...I'm not..but...) do you ever turn on the tap at home to wash your hands after using the facilities?

Surely germophobes must have automated water dispensing in their bathrooms at home...the sink taps would be the worst....germs exist prior to turning them on. You wash and eliminate germs...then turn the taps back off...re-establishing the germ/hand connection.

Good point!

[Beanie01]

This is all very silly, because wherever you wash your hands, you are on a ship with several thousand people. Anything you touch has been touched by someone else! The elevator buttons, the stairway rails, the arm of a pool chair, your steward touching your cabin door handle, your drink that was just handed to you! If someone is really that worried about germs because they have to go from Point A to Point B to wash, they really don't belong on a cruise ship.

As for this curtain track everyone's talking about, I do believe all the cabins have an oval shaped recessed light, if that's what anyone is referring to.

And again, with the separate shower, what's the big deal to have your towel and robe/pj's on or over the door? You dry off, you get dressed, you come out.

[CanadianTwosome]

So let me get this straight... people would rather wash their hands and then touch a doorknob IN A BATHROOM rather than leave the bathroom and then wash their hands and not touch anything else... :confused: I recommend watching the Mythbusters episode where they measured the level of feces found in EVERY bathroom - even the 'cleanest'.

I don't even consider myself a 'germophobe' and I don't touch any bathroom door I don't have to. If I have to use a public facility, I use a paper towel to open the door, or if there are none, I'll pick up a piece of my clothing and use it as a barrier. Public door handles are almost as bad as money - and or bathroom doors, you have to touch them on the way in... There's a reason doctors have sinks outside of bathrooms and with no doorknobs to touch for scrubbing before surgery...

Again, this is just one more thing I'm happy about with the new design. I don't have to get sweaty either from my own residual steam or someone else's, AND I don't have to touch a bathroom doorknob with my clean, freshly washed hands! As for those who worry that some might 'forget to wash' due to the design, it's my opinion that people are either hand washers or they aren't; whether the sink is immediately beside the toilet or on the other side of a door is not going to make a difference. There's also the possibility that some who don't usually wash their hands will do so in this design because someone is there to see them do (or not do) it... :eek:

[sjbdtz]

Public door handles are almost as bad as money -


I'd be happy to help with your issue about touching money. Pull on some latex gloves, stuff the money into a suitcase, and close the suitcase.

Email me for my address ;)

[CruisinMatt]

So let me get this straight... people would rather wash their hands and then touch a doorknob IN A BATHROOM rather than leave the bathroom and then wash their hands and not touch anything else... :confused: I recommend watching the Mythbusters episode where they measured the level of feces found in EVERY bathroom - even the 'cleanest'.

I


Alot of the "stuff" you are worried about touching is airbourne - how do you handle that? Have you ever looked into the fecal content of most drinking and tap waters? It's everywhere folks - no escaping it... :rolleyes:

[time2cruise1]

Alot of the "stuff" you are worried about touching is airbourne - how do you handle that? :rolleyes:

Simple - but it makes dining onbord a bit difficult for the germophobes. :D

http://www.fluvirusmasks.com/res/img/swine_flu_face_mask.jpg

[CanadianTwosome]

I'd be happy to help with your issue about touching money. Pull on some latex gloves, stuff the money into a suitcase, and close the suitcase.

Email me for my address ;)

So... would you believe me if I said, 'The 'suitcase' is in the mail...'? :p

[Anton]

Thanks for all the bashing. Not surprising for this forum or it's regular members. Enjoy the Epic everyone! I won't be joining you.

[CanadianTwosome]

Thanks for all the bashing. Not surprising for this forum or it's regular members. Enjoy the Epic everyone! I won't be joining you.

Bashing?

So... when people have different points of view outside of this board, are they 'bashing' you, too?

Wait... were you bashing me when you originally posted stating something that was a different point of view from mine? If that's what you think it means when someone doesn't agree with everything you say or voices a different point of view, then you MUST HAVE been bashing me!!! How rude. :rolleyes:

[pokeypoke]

Thanks for all the bashing. Not surprising for this forum or it's regular members. Enjoy the Epic everyone! I won't be joining you.

(Please read this in a very calm manner for that is the way that I am writing it)

I don't think anyone was bashing you or the subject you brought up. Yes, you are entitled to sail or not to sail any ship you choose for what ever reason you choose. I understood your post/question and what point you were trying to make. Howevere, a good many of us are trying to understand your logic. Yes, we are not you, you are not me and I am not everyone else therefore, we all think differently and will all have different opinions. I think the point that many are making in regards to the germaphobic (sp?) topic is that germs are going to exsist everywhere regardless if a sink is in a room or not, if people wash their hands or not or what ever the situation may be. This is a forum where people come to get answers to their questions and Canadiantwosome has it right..., you are going to get many opinions. Just because someone's point of view is different from yours, does not mean they are bashing anything.

I'm sorry you feel that some were attacking you.

[CanadianTwosome]

(Please read this in a very calm manner for that is the way that I am writing it)

I don't think anyone was bashing you or the subject you brought up. Yes, you are entitled to sail or not to sail any ship you choose for what ever reason you choose. I understood your post/question and what point you were trying to make. Howevere, a good many of us are trying to understand your logic. Yes, we are not you, you are not me and I am not everyone else therefore, we all think differently and will all have different opinions. I think the point that many are making in regards to the germaphobic (sp?) topic is that germs are going to exsist everywhere regardless if a sink is in a room or not, if people wash their hands or not or what ever the situation may be. This is a forum where people come to get answers to their questions and Canadiantwosome has it right..., you are going to get many opinions. Just because someone's point of view is different from yours, does not mean they are bashing anything.

I'm sorry you feel that some were attacking you.

Well said! I have to admit, I probably should have been a bit more sensitive in my reply as well, but I've just completely lost all patience with the whole 'bashing' thing. If people take offense any time someone has a different opinion, or perspective, or general viewpoint than they do, they simply should not post on a public message board. Just to be clear, that is only my opinion, of course.

[sjbdtz]

The reality for NCL is that I will not be booking a cabin on the Epic, and rightly or wrongly it will be due to the cabin design. And I am not alone.

Thanks for all the bashing. Not surprising for this forum or it's regular members. Enjoy the Epic everyone! I won't be joining you.


We will. Thanks for stopping by to share.

[angeljt]

I've been following this thread out of curiosity. I can't understand why anyone who is so concerned about germs would want to be on a ship with thousands of people.

Anton, I don't think anyone was bashing you, and the 'regulars' here certainly weren't. It seemed they were trying to be helpful and find a solution for those looking for one.

[time2cruise1]

(Please read this in a very calm manner for that is the way that I am writing it)

I don't think anyone was bashing you or the subject you brought up. Yes, you are entitled to sail or not to sail any ship you choose for what ever reason you choose. I understood your post/question and what point you were trying to make. Howevere, a good many of us are trying to understand your logic. Yes, we are not you, you are not me and I am not everyone else therefore, we all think differently and will all have different opinions. I think the point that many are making in regards to the germaphobic (sp?) topic is that germs are going to exsist everywhere regardless if a sink is in a room or not, if people wash their hands or not or what ever the situation may be. This is a forum where people come to get answers to their questions and Canadiantwosome has it right..., you are going to get many opinions. Just because someone's point of view is different from yours, does not mean they are bashing anything.

I'm sorry you feel that some were attacking you.

Excellent clam thoughtful explanation. I considered posting a similar response but I am afraid it would have been less calm and more direct.
One thing everyone who comes to any message board has to know they will always get differences of opinion. That is in the end the value of an open forum.

[AFT_LOVER]

Just spray away to kill all germs including phone, remote, door handles but the stewards are to clean very well before you get in there. Then enjoy the scent also. At home if husband is ill or me, I spray the place down & the other person has not gotten ill. So I have my can for all hotel roooms as well as cruise rooms.


I see your point Anton but my point is the people who use the cabin the week before you use it (let's say you are in a standard bathroom setup with a toilet, shower and sink all together in a seperate room) and THOSE people never washed their hands, the door to the bathroom (along with everything else in the room) is going to be a germ fest. If you wash your hands, you still have to touch the door to get out of the bathroom. Yes, you can sterilize the door but you can do the same thing with a toilet that is seperate from the sink. So again I ask, what difference would it make if the sink was in or outside of the toilet? Either way, you or someone else is going to touch the door handle. Personally, I wouldn't rule out sailing the Epic just because of this.

[hat776]

Lots of people share cabins who are are not immediate family members. A friend shared a cabin with her mother and her SIL.
NCL will have spent millions in designing this ship. I refuse to believe that they will have created shower facilities that could put people off sailing with the Epic.
You can't really take a towel and cover up into a shower cubicle with you as they would get wet. There has to be a way to open the door of the shower to get hold of a towel and cover up without having to expose yourself.
What mystifies me is how NCL doesn't enter this thread and solve the problem once and for all. A brief explanation would be a help to many people in their planning.

[CruisinMatt]

I don't think anyone from NCL comes on here and addresses anything, other than that kid with the blog that works on Pride of America.

[sjbdtz]

I don't think anyone from NCL comes on here and addresses anything, other than that kid with the blog that works on Pride of America.


Yet, they've done so more than once.

[time2cruise1]

I don't think anyone from NCL comes on here and addresses anything, other than that kid with the blog that works on Pride of America.

Yet, they've done so more than once.

Yes they have but don't expect them to come here and debate the sink placement. They are not going to change to design of the ship because some people can't pull a curtain closed and don't want to brush their teeth in sight of others in the cabin. ;)

[CruisinMatt]

NCL knows exactly what they are doing with this design. It is different, but people will get used to it. I'm sure if they get boatloads of complaints, they will make better design choices for future ships.

[sbwmail]

I'm very sure NCL will get loads of complaints for quite some time, but for those of us who have booked, we will just have to "make it work" in some way...it will be easier for some than others and we will get used to it and come up with systems/plans to feel more comfortable with the showers, toilets and sinks. I hate the idea of it, but if we take the cruise (without a cabin w/bathROOM) we'll just have to deal with it.

[indimini]

There may not be a bathROOM, but then again, how many cabins actually contain baths? You are getting a waterCLOSET, and a showerSTALL. :D

[pokeypoke]

People hate change and are uneasy about something they have not experienced. Regardless if you hate or accept the shower design and lay-out, what's done is done. I can remember the big uproar when the Walt Disney Co. built Disneyland Paris (then known as EuroDisney). The French bitched and moaned, all hell broke loose and they refused to visit the Park. Even before the resort was built, they hated the idea of something new invading their culture. At some point, they began to hear word that the place wasn't as bad as they imagined it was. Today, Disneyland Paris is the #1 tourist Attraction/destination in all of Europe and the French now embrace it. My point is, how can one say they hate the Epic's bathroom lay-out before they have ever experienced it?

[hat776]

It's true NCL rarely post here. It also seems to be true that NCL is so popular DESPITE their customer care department.
If NCl for some reason or other doesn't post here, is it possible that they haven't realised that some people are having problems with the layout and so make it clear on THEIR site.

[time2cruise1]

It's true NCL rarely post here. It also seems to be true that NCL is so popular DESPITE their customer care department.
If NCl for some reason or other doesn't post here, is it possible that they haven't realised that some people are having problems with the layout and so make it clear on THEIR site.

Why :confused: It is not going to change. For every person that has a problem there are 1000s that will still book with no concern. I happen to love the fact I can shave while someone else showers and not have to fight fog on the mirror.

[CanadianTwosome]

Lots of people share cabins who are are not immediate family members. A friend shared a cabin with her mother and her SIL.
NCL will have spent millions in designing this ship. I refuse to believe that they will have created shower facilities that could put people off sailing with the Epic.
You can't really take a towel and cover up into a shower cubicle with you as they would get wet. There has to be a way to open the door of the shower to get hold of a towel and cover up without having to expose yourself.
What mystifies me is how NCL doesn't enter this thread and solve the problem once and for all. A brief explanation would be a help to many people in their planning.

I'm not sure what more 'explanation' NCL can give besides the already available cabin diagrams. I don't recall them offering solutions for my family of three, with my mother along, on how to handle the exact same 'problem' when we travelled together in an inside cabin on the Dream. The crazy thing is that it wasn't a problem for us - not even slightly.

We were in a small inside cabin with four adult-sized individuals, two of whom were not immediate family and of opposite gender. My mom and husband should have had the biggest 'problem', but again, there just wasn't one. Neither had any problem showing the other respect and giving each other privacy. My mom would go and change while my husband and I went to pick up or drop off our daughter at Kid's Crew. Then she would leave to have a smoke while my husband changed - not only giving him privacy but also smoking while we weren't around to be bothered by it.

Having had this experience, I simply can't wrap my head around why this new design is such a big deal for so many people. Aside from the fact that there is a privacy curtain anyway, is it really so hard for people to imagine just being respectful of each other? I mean, these are people you've chosen to share a cruise ship cabin with for a week!! Whenever I think about this 'problem' I can't help picturing a grown man sitting on the bed stamping his food saying, 'NO! I will NOT look away. I paid for this cruise and I am going to stare straight ahead at the shower door and you can't make me stop!' I mean really... this sounds silly, doesn't it? How hard is it to look away? How about facing the other way while reading a book? Most of the cabins are going to have balconies, also - is it so distasteful to go out there for a few minutes? There's also that privacy curtain that actually provides the privacy people appear to be concerned about.

I also can't help but wonder if any of the people denouncing the design have ever actually travelled in an inside cabin. There is NO privacy and NO room for milling about. Inside cabins are not for socializing in; they're for sleeping, showering, and changing. Balcony cabins have additional space - where it's even easier to just not look at the shower door or watch someone brush their teeth. Do people really watch each other brush their teeth when given the choice?

I'm not trying to offend anyone, so I hope I haven't. Individual levels of modesty are just that - individual - and I'm not about to tell anyone that they are 'too modest' or 'not modest enough'. I'm just expressing my own confusion about why something that seems to me to be so easy to deal with is such a huge deal to anyone.

[travelingla]

I'm just expressing my own confusion about why something that seems to me to be so easy to deal with is such a huge deal to anyone.

WELL said! ;)

[CruisinMatt]

I'm just expressing my own confusion about why something that seems to me to be so easy to deal with is such a huge deal to anyone.

Cruise ship and hotel bathrooms within the past 20 years have been typically the one room type design, with the shower, sink and toilet all in one, behind a closed door that can lock.

On the Epic, it's now made part of the cabin itself, with the sink outside of everything and the shower and toilet being thier own compartments, the entire area only separated from the sleeping/living area but a possible curtain.

I'd call this change a fairly "big deal" whether it be good or bad. I feel it definitey warrants discussion.

It's great that you find it much more accomodating due to the shower steam/germ concerns, however not everyone will be that quick to embrace the idea.

Like I've said before, it will be interesting to see what the reaction is once people start sailing.

NCL is known for innovation, perhaps this will be the wave of the future in cruise bathrooms. :D

[CanadianTwosome]

Cruise ship and hotel bathrooms within the past 20 years have been typically the one room type design, with the shower, sink and toilet all in one, behind a closed door that can lock.

On the Epic, it's now made part of the cabin itself, with the sink outside of everything and the shower and toilet being thier own compartments, the entire area only separated from the sleeping/living area but a possible curtain.

I'd call this change a fairly "big deal" whether it be good or bad. I feel it definitey warrants discussion.

It's great that you find it much more accomodating due to the shower steam/germ concerns, however not everyone will be that quick to embrace the idea.

Like I've said before, it will be interesting to see what the reaction is once people start sailing.

NCL is known for innovation, perhaps this will be the wave of the future in cruise bathrooms. :D

I agree on pretty much all your points. :) I especially think that there won't be any 'real' opinions until people actually experience the staterooms. Until then it's all just speculation.

The thing that confuses me though - which I was trying to express - is not that people aren't embracing the idea - because not everyone is ever going to like everything - but that the issues that people have with it seem (to me) so simple to get around.

[CruisinRoxy]

We only cruised on Norwegian once - the Dawn - and loved it. But I would absolutely NOT embrace these staterooms. The only way I would cruise the Epic is in the Suites - where there is some privacy. How do you pop out of the shower with no where to change? But it seems to me that NCL would have been better advised to perhaps configured the ship with about half of the staterooms like this design. Rather like inside cabins comprise only a portion of the total. So to people to whom this is no big deal, it would be fine. But to people to whom it IS a big deal, would have other options. Looking at the deck plans, there ARE no other options. It's this way or no way. Because the Suites are prohibitively expensive, I will not be sailing the Epic unless and until the price comes way down. But stilll, it seems to me there should be more options of staterooms, rather than just assuming everyone is fine with this. Just seems very presumptuous of Norwegian. Can anyone imagine Marriott or Hilton or the Ritz hotel chains just "doing away with the whole bathroom concept?" Just pop a toilet and a shower in the room with a transluscent door. Not to mention a sink in the main room? Unimaginable, IMHO. I actually think Budget or Motel 6 or one of those economical motel chains does that, actually.

[AFT_LOVER]

have tubs, but the photo from the spa show jacuzzis next to the window below the circular bed. So that could be a suite & our Spa balcony is like a mini with a tub & shower inside it. Not sure so the surprise will be welcomed. But we get the spa 24/7 with their thalotherapy pool to relax in with heated stone loungers and other great things.

There may not be a bathROOM, but then again, how many cabins actually contain baths? You are getting a waterCLOSET, and a showerSTALL. :D

[AFT_LOVER]

and spray away everything when you enter. Be sure to do phone, remote, all buttons to coffeemaker, TV, phone, remote, etc. Then you use the bathroom & use a piece of toilet paper to open the door. Throw it out at the sink as you wash your hands. Again spray the door before you exit. Then when you come home to it, you wash your hands as you enter to keep the room clean.

Handicapped restrooms have auto doors that slide open. Why not all of them? I take a paper towel that is used for doors, elevator buttons, railings, etc. Then I pitch it in the restaurant or theatre. Use the sanitzer there.

We booked Jewel for December 2009 & Epic for December 2010. Friends got us a box that has gloves, face masks, sanitizers & it was Swine Flu Safety Box.


So let me get this straight... people would rather wash their hands and then touch a doorknob IN A BATHROOM rather than leave the bathroom and then wash their hands and not touch anything else... :confused: I recommend watching the Mythbusters episode where they measured the level of feces found in EVERY bathroom - even the 'cleanest'.

I don't even consider myself a 'germophobe' and I don't touch any bathroom door I don't have to. If I have to use a public facility, I use a paper towel to open the door, or if there are none, I'll pick up a piece of my clothing and use it as a barrier. Public door handles are almost as bad as money - and or bathroom doors, you have to touch them on the way in... There's a reason doctors have sinks outside of bathrooms and with no doorknobs to touch for scrubbing before surgery...

Again, this is just one more thing I'm happy about with the new design. I don't have to get sweaty either from my own residual steam or someone else's, AND I don't have to touch a bathroom doorknob with my clean, freshly washed hands! As for those who worry that some might 'forget to wash' due to the design, it's my opinion that people are either hand washers or they aren't; whether the sink is immediately beside the toilet or on the other side of a door is not going to make a difference. There's also the possibility that some who don't usually wash their hands will do so in this design because someone is there to see them do (or not do) it... :eek:

[jeannep]

and spray away everything when you enter. Be sure to do phone, remote, all buttons to coffeemaker, TV, phone, remote, etc. Then you use the bathroom & use a piece of toilet paper to open the door. Throw it out at the sink as you wash your hands. Again spray the door before you exit. Then when you come home to it, you wash your hands as you enter to keep the room clean.

Handicapped restrooms have auto doors that slide open. Why not all of them? I take a paper towel that is used for doors, elevator buttons, railings, etc. Then I pitch it in the restaurant or theatre. Use the sanitzer there.

We booked Jewel for December 2009 & Epic for December 2010. Friends got us a box that has gloves, face masks, sanitizers & it was Swine Flu Safety Box.


I always use my knuckle when pressing for elevators or floors.
The Oust spray sounds like a good idea. We are leaving on the Jewel on Sept 30th and we are getting a regular flu shot tomorrow. I wish the Swine Flu shots were out but they are not ready.

Jeanne

[nudistcruzer]

I am sure the Epic bathrooms will have privacy. Through the frosted glass you might be able to make out the color of skin, but that would be about it. That said, I live at a nudist resort and rarely see my neighbors wearing clothing, even when their grandchildren are there. However, we still close the door to the bathroom when we are doing our business.
The Epic does show trends. The frosted glass sliding door is no exception. There was the same thing in a brand new hotel I stayed in.

[sottovoce]

Cruise ship and hotel bathrooms within the past 20 years have been typically the one room type design, with the shower, sink and toilet all in one, behind a closed door that can lock.

This is not really true. I've stayed in dozens of motels where the sink is open to the sleeping area. Yes, the WC and shower were in the same room, but, to me, that presents more of a problem than having them in separate rooms, where two people can use them separately and privately.

[sottovoce]

How do you pop out of the shower with no where to change?
You pull closed the privacy curtain. Doesn't sound that difficult to me.

[sbwmail]

..and behind that curtain, the clothes that you are going to put on after stepping out of the shower are where? ...on the floor? ...on a hook that you bring from home and stick to the outside of the shower stall? ...on a chair that you place between the stall and the curtain....otherwise that leaves the floor, if the curtain draws around in a circle and doesn't stretch across the room (just guessing and anticipating, not angry....just visualizing this upcoming event in my mind!) Can't wait for the actual first photos of this situation and how people will be dealing with it differently.

[sottovoce]

..and behind that curtain, the clothes that you are going to put on after stepping out of the shower are where?
Looking at the picture of the room on page one of this thread, I see a double hook on the stateroom door and what appear to be two each on the outside of the door to the WC and on the outside of the shower.

[sbwmail]

Thank you Sottovoce, that will work!

[sottovoce]

Thank you Sottovoce, that will work!
If these hooks appear in the final configuration, I think it will be better than trying to hang your clothes in a Jewel/Jade or Spirit bathroom. Spirit has only two little pegs on the wall of the shower right up against the sink. Else you've got to stack your clothes on the toilet seat, or, I suppose, bring hangers from home and hang them on the towel bars on the inside of the bathroom door.

The one disadvantage I see to the Epic configuration is the inability for one member of a couple to get up earlier in the morning, go into the bathroom and do all the morning preps while the other still sleeps undisturbed. That will be harder to do with the sink in the room and the need to move between toilet, WC, sink, etc. The curtain won't be very effective in muffling sounds.

We'll deal with it without complaint.

[sjbdtz]

My only complaint is that the curtain seals-off the cabin door.

So one person can't be in the shower / toilet area at the same time as the other may be entering or leaving the cabin.

IF the curtain would enclose the wet area, leaving the cabin door un-enclosed....problem solved.

[hat776]

Is it possible that the designers didn't think of all these problems ? Wouldn't they have imagined that people sharing a room are not all intimate family ? Wouldn't they have imagined that a MIL would feel uncomfortable without basic privacy with SIL or a grandmother with teen age grandchild ?
I refuse to believe they could be so dumb and that there is a practical way to get out of the shower , dry and dressed without worry.
I can just imagine all the posts when folk start returning from their Epic cruise.

[CruisinRoxy]

Is it possible that the designers didn't think of all these problems ? Wouldn't they have imagined that people sharing a room are not all intimate family ? Wouldn't they have imagined that a MIL would feel uncomfortable without basic privacy with SIL or a grandmother with teen age grandchild ?
I refuse to believe they could be so dumb and that there is a practical way to get out of the shower , dry and dressed without worry.
I can just imagine all the posts when folk start returning from their Epic cruise.
Truthfully, I DO think they were that dumb. Or maybe didn't think at all about this. I wonder if they will have a difficult time booking this ship with this being the only option, other than suites, for this odd and uncomfortable arrangement.

[sjbdtz]

Truthfully, I DO think they were that dumb. Or maybe didn't think at all about this. I wonder if they will have a difficult time booking this ship with this being the only option, other than suites, for this odd and uncomfortable arrangement.

I disagree. Besides, all we've seen are artist's representations. Maybe the actual plans differ.

And no, I don't think they'll have a difficult time booking this ship.

[CanadianTwosome]

Every time I come back to this thread and read a bit more from people on the 'other side' of the fence from me (I love the new design), I am struck by the same thought...

Do people seriously do all of their dressing and undressing in cruise ship bathrooms? I simply cannot imagine this. I have never, nor do I ever intend to, change my clothes in a space smaller than most department store change rooms I've been in. Do you stand on the toilet to avoid your 'step-in' clothes touching the wet floor after someone has showered? Do you ever go to public pools, gyms, or athletic clubs - and if so, how do you handle that?

I have cruised as a child with my sister, mother and grandmother; as a 20-something with fellow students; and as an adult with my daughter, husband and sometimes mother. On none of those occasions did I feel it necessary to change in the bathroom (thank goodness). For anyone who enjoys wearing formal gowns, I can't imagine even considering trying to put one on in such a small space! The gown I wore on the Star had a built in tulle crinoline... I'm not sure I could have fit in the bathroom at all wearing it, let alone navigated my way into it!! :eek:

So... please understand I am honestly confused by this. I try to picture someone going into that little space every time they want to change - especially after someone (including them) has just had a shower, and I just don't get it.

[hat776]

I don't really think people necessarily mean taking ALL their clothes into the bathroom.
What I mean, is that most women would prefer stepping out of the shower in a wrap, dressing gown, house coat , nightie etc .
I don't know if the bathrooms on the Gem are different - but the floor near the sink never got wet as obviously people shower with the cubicle door closed.

[PokerDave]

There are always trade-offs...

It's all speculation at this point but personally I think they've come up with a significant innovation here. Many of the truly shocked folks on this thread seem not to understand that there is a privacy curtain that from the pictures will enclose both the bathroom and the shower.

To me, the downside is that any time you want privacy you have essentially blocked people either in or out of the room as you can't use the door. This will undoubtedly be inconvenient at times.

But to me you gain flexibility in the use of 3 things ( toilet, shower and sink ) for people who are unconcerned about privacy, as well as gaining lots of space in the cabin for the 95% of the time people aren't using these things.

I am booked on the Epic in a balcony room for 4 ( with DW, DD(18), DS(14)) and we will have to all share this arrangement. It will require some better planning and communication of when people are showering for sure, but I anticipate it being a net positive.

[sjbdtz]

There are always trade-offs...

It's all speculation at this point but personally I think they've come up with a significant innovation here. Many of the truly shocked folks on this thread seem not to understand that there is a privacy curtain that from the pictures will enclose both the bathroom and the shower.

To me, the downside is that any time you want privacy you have essentially blocked people either in or out of the room as you can't use the door. This will undoubtedly be inconvenient at times.

But to me you gain flexibility in the use of 3 things ( toilet, shower and sink ) for people who are unconcerned about privacy, as well as gaining lots of space in the cabin for the 95% of the time people aren't using these things.

I am booked on the Epic in a balcony room for 4 ( with DW, DD(18), DS(14)) and we will have to all share this arrangement. It will require some better planning and communication of when people are showering for sure, but I anticipate it being a net positive.

I agree 100%...the only concern I have about blocking the door, is that someone can't order Room Service while I shower...or ask the butler to bring something.

I don't understand AT ALL, why they wouldn't just have the curtain on the Spa Suite curve around so that it bisects the toilet area from the entry door.... it would be such a tiny change to make, and would make so much sense: http://epic.ncl.com/the-experience/accommodations/spa-staterooms/ (click on the overhead image...if the curtain were to wrap on the left side of the entry door, instead of going wall-to-wall...it could effectively conceal the 'wet area' leaving the ability for others to enter / exit the cabin.

[CanadianTwosome]

I agree 100%...the only concern I have about blocking the door, is that someone can't order Room Service while I shower...or ask the butler to bring something.

I don't understand AT ALL, why they wouldn't just have the curtain on the Spa Suite curve around so that it bisects the toilet area from the entry door.... it would be such a tiny change to make, and would make so much sense: http://epic.ncl.com/the-experience/accommodations/spa-staterooms/ (click on the overhead image...if the curtain were to wrap on the left side of the entry door, instead of going wall-to-wall...it could effectively conceal the 'wet area' leaving the ability for others to enter / exit the cabin.

Okay... I had a look at the link, and this makes even less sense to me than other cabins. From the layout, the shower and toilet areas are almost completely obscured from view just by being on the other side of the bed - and it is not visible at all from the door. Why would someone not be able to answer the door and accept something from the butler - even if you chose not to let them further into the cabin?

This brings me to another question... Are people expecting the shower door to be completely clear? From the looks of the artist's renderings, they're going to be opaque... so until the moment when the individual in the shower says, 'I'm coming out, can you close the curtain please?' there is no need to even draw it - is there? That brings me back to the idea of respect and courtesy... is it so difficult to just communicate and say, 'Don't come out for a minute, I'm opening the door...'?

I would LOVE it if someone who has a problem with the cabin design could actually answer some of the questions I've asked about in my last couple of posts. I don't understand any of these things, but I'd like to. :)

[pokeypoke]

Okay... I had a look at the link, and this makes even less sense to me than other cabins. From the layout, the shower and toilet areas are almost completely obscured from view just by being on the other side of the bed - and it is not visible at all from the door. Why would someone not be able to answer the door and accept something from the butler - even if you chose not to let them further into the cabin?

This brings me to another question... Are people expecting the shower door to be completely clear? From the looks of the artist's renderings, they're going to be opaque... so until the moment when the individual in the shower says, 'I'm coming out, can you close the curtain please?' there is no need to even draw it - is there? That brings me back to the idea of respect and courtesy... is it so difficult to just communicate and say, 'Don't come out for a minute, I'm opening the door...'?

I would LOVE it if someone who has a problem with the cabin design could actually answer some of the questions I've asked about in my last couple of posts. I don't understand any of these things, but I'd like to. :)

Ditto!!! Until someone has ACTUALLY experienced the cabin /bathroom layout first hand, why continue complaining about it? I have no issues with the layout but that is because the person I am traveling with is my partner of 10 years. If I were traveling with someone else, I STILL would not have an issue because:
#1 I would not be sharing a room with a complete stranger
#2 If the person I am traveling with is getting ready to take a shower, I would know before hand if I wanted to leave the room, lay on the bed and watch tv or go on the balcony and read or enjoy the atmosphere.
#3 If I were going to order room service, I would wait until the person was out of the shower
#4 If I were going to take a shower, I would place the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the outside door
#5 who actually dresses in the bathroom? I may put my underwear on in the bathroom but I do the rest of my dressing in the room. In a regular ship cabin's layout, MOST people do the same! If you are traveling with someone of the same sex, WHO CARES if you see them changing - they have the same equipment as do you. When you use a locker room, do you wait until everyone leaves before changing? If so, you probably have an image problem and chances are that other don't even notice if you are changing or not because THEY DON'T CARE.
#6 It is not as though you are going to be in the room for 24 hours every day of your trip. What..., do you plan on someone being in the shower for 2 hours at a time and you will be trapped in or out of the room? When I travel with someone, I eith get up earlier than the other person and get my shower taken while they are still sleeping or take it before I go to bed. How hard is it to make arrangements before hand with your traveling mate?
#7 Oh yeah..., THERE'S A CURTAIN!!! I don't think I need to explain how a curtain works.

All things said, I do understand people who may feel uncomfortable with the Epic's shower layout and YES, you do have a right to express your concerns BUT I think some are making this issue more difficult than it has to be. Communication and a plan of action needs to be understood between cabin mates who feel uncomfortable about the shower issue.

[sjbdtz]

Okay... I had a look at the link, and this makes even less sense to me than other cabins. From the layout, the shower and toilet areas are almost completely obscured from view just by being on the other side of the bed - and it is not visible at all from the door. Why would someone not be able to answer the door and accept something from the butler - even if you chose not to let them further into the cabin?

This brings me to another question... Are people expecting the shower door to be completely clear? From the looks of the artist's renderings, they're going to be opaque... so until the moment when the individual in the shower says, 'I'm coming out, can you close the curtain please?' there is no need to even draw it - is there? That brings me back to the idea of respect and courtesy... is it so difficult to just communicate and say, 'Don't come out for a minute, I'm opening the door...'?

I would LOVE it if someone who has a problem with the cabin design could actually answer some of the questions I've asked about in my last couple of posts. I don't understand any of these things, but I'd like to. :)

Okay...on that link the curtain was 'drawn-in'. You could SEE where the curtain will be. It goes side-wall to side-wall across the headboard of the bed...completely blocking the shower / toilet / sink area from the balcony.

BUT....the door to the cabin, from the hallway is on the shower-side of that curtain. So if someone wants/needs to use that door to the hallway, they first have to pass through the 'wet area' where people may have exited the shower and be towelling off / getting dressed.

My only suggestion was that instead of having the curtain go Wall to Wall, have it go Wall to just to the right of the toilet (on a curved-track).

That way the curtain creates a mini hallway between the cabin door and the balcony where people can ingress & egress from the cabin without compromising the privacy of the person who may have exited the shower.

That's it / that's all. Not a big deal....and I'm not all that concerned about it to begin with....nudity doesn't frighten me, and I'm not ashamed of it. ...but for those whose sense of modesty is higher than mine, it would be a very simple fix to ensure the 'wet area' is completely blocked from any requirements relating to the remainder of the cabin.

[time2cruise1]

BUT....the door to the cabin, from the hallway is on the shower-side of that curtain. So if someone wants/needs to use that door to the hallway, they first have to pass through the 'wet area' where people may have exited the shower and be towelling off / getting dressed.

.

:confused: Looking at the SA floorplan the door is on the dry side next to the toliet area. No need to walk thru the wet area where people would be drying off and dressing.

[sjbdtz]

:confused: Looking at the SA floorplan the door is on the dry side next to the toliet area. No need to walk thru the wet area where people would be drying off and dressing.

The curtain appears to stretch across the "wall" created by the bed's headboard. That means when you enter the cabin, you are in the same "wet area" as the shower...so you ALSO would have privacy from the rest of the cabin, but risk surprising someone coming in from the shower.

I added the word 'curtain' to this version:

http://thumb13.webshots.net/t/64/764/2/73/53/2922273530080057173bnyLzT_th.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2922273530080057173bnyLzT)


Right now the toilet door is open, and seems to meet the curtain...perhaps forming an acceptable barrier from the cabin door... but if it were closed...

[time2cruise1]

The curtain appears to stretch across the "wall" created by the bed's headboard. That means when you enter the cabin, you are in the same "wet area" as the shower...so you ALSO would have privacy from the rest of the cabin, but risk surprising someone coming in from the shower.

I added the word 'curtain' to this version:

http://thumb13.webshots.net/t/64/764/2/73/53/2922273530080057173bnyLzT_th.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2922273530080057173bnyLzT)


Right now the toilet door is open, and seems to meet the curtain...perhaps forming an acceptable barrier from the cabin door... but if it were closed...

Still confused how does the wet area extend from the shower to the other side of the cabin ? You would need a water fight in the shower to get the entrance area wet. I understand the current view of the curtain.

[sjbdtz]

Still confused how does the wet area extend from the shower to the other side of the cabin ? You would need a water fight in the shower to get the entrance area wet. I understand the current view of the curtain.


"wet area" equals all of the water-related things. shower, sink, toilet.

It's delineated in the cabin by having a tile floor vs. carpet.

[AFT_LOVER]

but the Oust SANITIZING SPRAY. Works for killing germs


I use after illness in the home or on the road. We use it for hotel rooms, never been sick this year since we had Pneumonia April 2008 after Spain Cruise that was a week at sea then the Azores & Portugal + 4 ports of Spain before we flew home on Delta from Barcelona. SO IT WORKS!


ways use my knuckle when pressing for elevators or floors.
The Oust spray sounds like a good idea. We are leaving on the Jewel on Sept 30th and we are getting a regular flu shot tomorrow. I wish the Swine Flu shots were out but they are not ready.

Jeanne

[time2cruise1]

"wet area" equals all of the water-related things. shower, sink, toilet.

It's delineated in the cabin by having a tile floor vs. carpet.

I would not expect carpet anywhere in the SA with the hot tub next to the bed.

[Momof 2 boys]

Cruise ship and hotel bathrooms within the past 20 years have been typically the one room type design, with the shower, sink and toilet all in one, behind a closed door that can lock.

On the Epic, it's now made part of the cabin itself, with the sink outside of everything and the shower and toilet being thier own compartments, the entire area only separated from the sleeping/living area but a possible curtain.

I'd call this change a fairly "big deal" whether it be good or bad. I feel it definitey warrants discussion.

It's great that you find it much more accomodating due to the shower steam/germ concerns, however not everyone will be that quick to embrace the idea.

Like I've said before, it will be interesting to see what the reaction is once people start sailing.

NCL is known for innovation, perhaps this will be the wave of the future in cruise bathrooms. :D

I have been reading this thread because I am interested in this ship also. I think the cabin itself is very attractive...in it's retro kinda look. We, my family and I have been on 13 cruises....our favorite I must say so far is the DCL (Disney cruise line) and we love that they have 2 bathrooms. One has a sink and toilet and the other a shower/tub/sink. It is so great. The cabins are a good family size. And there is also a curtain that you can close off to separate half the room and change. The boys are older know so we just get two cabins.

So how would we do in this cabin if we were all in one ....well IMO it would feel very unprivate. I have 2 teen boys, I would have to say...okay close your eyes I need to change. So they would sit on the bed and close there eyes why I put on my underclothing. And the same would go for them.

Even through colored/frosted glass you can still see the outline of ones body. So why sitting on the toilet and in the shower, it will have less privacy. This of course would only work with immediate family in the room.

I cant believe that they have no curtain or something.....they have to. I dont think they would have such a design flaw as to not add that. This would cause for many complaints.

We would most likely get a villa so that problem would be taken care of and we would want the extra room. But if we could not we would most likely try this room and if it worked great we would sail Epic again and if it didn't than we would just cruise on a different ship.

Lord knows that there are enough ships out there to sail on till our hearts content....and more just keep coming. Pick your Favorite and sail away.....

Happy sailing:D

[time2cruise1]

I cant believe that they have no curtain or something.....they have to. I dont think they would have such a design flaw as to not add that. This would cause for many complaints.

Happy sailing:D

No reason not to believe it. If you read everything you will note there is a privacy curtain that seperates the main cabin area from the bathroom area.

[hat776]

<< who actually dresses in the bathroom? I may put my underwear on in the bathroom but I do the rest of my dressing in the room. In a regular ship cabin's layout, MOST people do the same! >>
That's just it. In this layout where would you put your underwear while you shower ?
This tread was started by a grandmother - maybe she (like me) has never used a locker room and is used to a certain amount of privacy.
However, strange as we might seem to many of you there are lots of folk like us who - for whatever reason - prefer privacy. Many wouldn't even feel comfortable with the opaque glass doors.
If you draw the curtain , you are defeating the scope of having separate toilet, sink, shower areas.

[PokerDave]

<< who actually dresses in the bathroom? I may put my underwear on in the bathroom but I do the rest of my dressing in the room. In a regular ship cabin's layout, MOST people do the same! >>
That's just it. In this layout where would you put your underwear while you shower ?
This tread was started by a grandmother - maybe she (like me) has never used a locker room and is used to a certain amount of privacy.
However, strange as we might seem to many of you there are lots of folk like us who - for whatever reason - prefer privacy. Many wouldn't even feel comfortable with the opaque glass doors.
If you draw the curtain , you are defeating the scope of having separate toilet, sink, shower areas.

No you don't, entirely. The Sink is still on the other side of the curtain, but the main reason for doing this in my opinion is to gain back the floorspace of the typical bathroom for the 95% of the time someone isn't using the toilet or the shower.

[sottovoce]

No you don't, entirely. The Sink is still on the other side of the curtain, but the main reason for doing this in my opinion is to gain back the floorspace of the typical bathroom for the 95% of the time someone isn't using the toilet or the shower.
And to allow one person to use the toilet in privacy while the other showers; or to use the sink while the other is in the toilet; or any permutation of the above...none of which are possible with the current bathroom layout.

[AFT_LOVER]

Anyone can go into the bathroom while you are showering or on the toilet and they can see & smell you thru the glass doors. On Epic the shower is a colored glass door, the toilet is a wood door and whatever you do at the sink besides brushing teeth, some folks to that in the shower as well as shaving. Exit the shower to a robe & walk out on the balcony to cool off, then dress. Anyone in the room with you who is not showering or using the toilet may be going to the restaurant for a table for everyone. Then you join them when dressed.


I have been reading this thread because I am interested in this ship also. I think the cabin itself is very attractive...in it's retro kinda look. We, my family and I have been on 13 cruises....our favorite I must say so far is the DCL (Disney cruise line) and we love that they have 2 bathrooms. One has a sink and toilet and the other a shower/tub/sink. It is so great. The cabins are a good family size. And there is also a curtain that you can close off to separate half the room and change. The boys are older know so we just get two cabins.

So how would we do in this cabin if we were all in one ....well IMO it would feel very unprivate. I have 2 teen boys, I would have to say...okay close your eyes I need to change. So they would sit on the bed and close there eyes why I put on my underclothing. And the same would go for them.

Even through colored/frosted glass you can still see the outline of ones body. So why sitting on the toilet and in the shower, it will have less privacy. This of course would only work with immediate family in the room.

I cant believe that they have no curtain or something.....they have to. I dont think they would have such a design flaw as to not add that. This would cause for many complaints.

We would most likely get a villa so that problem would be taken care of and we would want the extra room. But if we could not we would most likely try this room and if it worked great we would sail Epic again and if it didn't than we would just cruise on a different ship.

Lord knows that there are enough ships out there to sail on till our hearts content....and more just keep coming. Pick your Favorite and sail away.....

Happy sailing:D

[CanadianTwosome]

I have been reading this thread because I am interested in this ship also. I think the cabin itself is very attractive...in it's retro kinda look. We, my family and I have been on 13 cruises....our favorite I must say so far is the DCL (Disney cruise line) and we love that they have 2 bathrooms. One has a sink and toilet and the other a shower/tub/sink. It is so great. The cabins are a good family size. And there is also a curtain that you can close off to separate half the room and change. The boys are older know so we just get two cabins.

So how would we do in this cabin if we were all in one ....well IMO it would feel very unprivate. I have 2 teen boys, I would have to say...okay close your eyes I need to change. So they would sit on the bed and close there eyes why I put on my underclothing. And the same would go for them.

Even through colored/frosted glass you can still see the outline of ones body. So why sitting on the toilet and in the shower, it will have less privacy. This of course would only work with immediate family in the room.

I cant believe that they have no curtain or something.....they have to. I dont think they would have such a design flaw as to not add that. This would cause for many complaints.

We would most likely get a villa so that problem would be taken care of and we would want the extra room. But if we could not we would most likely try this room and if it worked great we would sail Epic again and if it didn't than we would just cruise on a different ship.

Lord knows that there are enough ships out there to sail on till our hearts content....and more just keep coming. Pick your Favorite and sail away.....

Happy sailing:D

If I'm understanding you correctly, on DCL, there is a privacy curtain in the cabins, which you took advantage of when travelling together with your boys when they were younger. They also have separate 'facilities' - so the big difference is not so much the two bathrooms as it is the two sinks. It sounds to me like you (and anyone else who has cruised DCL) have real experience with a similar setup - again with the exception of the sink.

Now knowing this, I feel even more confident that people are going to find this layout completely functional. Obviously Disney cruisers have been living with a similar design and loving it.

I think people are overthinking this and coming up with the most extreme scenarios they can to support their view that privacy is an issue. How long does it take someone to shower? It takes me about 15 minutes at most... so this means that your travelling companion(s) will have to 'endure' having the privacy curtain closed for at most 20 - 30 minutes if you close it before you get in the shower and don't open it again until you're 'presentable'. What is it that these people usually do that they would be so affected by this 'hardship'? Do they hang out in the entryway to the cabin staring at the bathroom door? Are they incapable of making decisions like whether to leave the cabin or order room service before or after someone showers? Right now for those with privacy issues, they have to decide whether or not to use the toilet before or after someone showers, and that's actually something that could have some real urgency - unlike leaving the cabin or ordering room service.

[Momof 2 boys]

No reason not to believe it. If you read everything you will note there is a privacy curtain that seperates the main cabin area from the bathroom area.

If I'm understanding you correctly, on DCL, there is a privacy curtain in the cabins, which you took advantage of when travelling together with your boys when they were younger. They also have separate 'facilities' - so the big difference is not so much the two bathrooms as it is the two sinks. It sounds to me like you (and anyone else who has cruised DCL) have real experience with a similar setup - again with the exception of the sink.

Now knowing this, I feel even more confident that people are going to find this layout completely functional. Obviously Disney cruisers have been living with a similar design and loving it.

I think people are overthinking this and coming up with the most extreme scenarios they can to support their view that privacy is an issue. How long does it take someone to shower? It takes me about 15 minutes at most... so this means that your travelling companion(s) will have to 'endure' having the privacy curtain closed for at most 20 - 30 minutes if you close it before you get in the shower and don't open it again until you're 'presentable'. What is it that these people usually do that they would be so affected by this 'hardship'? Do they hang out in the entryway to the cabin staring at the bathroom door? Are they incapable of making decisions like whether to leave the cabin or order room service before or after someone showers? Right now for those with privacy issues, they have to decide whether or not to use the toilet before or after someone showers, and that's actually something that could have some real urgency - unlike leaving the cabin or ordering room service.

DCL has 2 bathrooms that have 2 solid doors. Cant see anyone in there. there is room to dry off after taking a shower in the one bathroom. When you get out wearing a towel, you can close off half of the room with long curtain cutting off 1/2 the room.

The curtain is not for the bathroom, it is so when you are sleeping you can close off the part of the room that you are in with the queen bed from the area that the kids are sleeping in the area with the bunks/sofa. It for adult privacy.

But what is nice is that you can have the kids sitting on the couch watching TV why you are on the other side of the room changing with the curtain drawn.

It cuts off the couch and TV and desk and chair and dresser one half....and the other half has the queen bed, bathrooms and closet and dresser trunk on the other.

Love the 2 bathrooms. One can shower or take a bath in one or shave.....and the other is free to go to the bathroom, brush your teeth or put makeup on at the same time. IMO it is something all cruise lines should do kids or no kids. Just make the cabins a bit bigger instead of trying to cram everyone into a little hole. As far as Cabins go DCL out of the 13 times cruising on 5 different lines.....DCL has been the best and most roomiest.

[sottovoce]

The curtain is not for the bathroom, it is so when you are sleeping you can close off the part of the room that you are in with the queen bed from the area that the kids are sleeping in the area with the bunks/sofa. It for adult privacy.

But what is nice is that you can have the kids sitting on the couch watching TV why you are on the other side of the room changing with the curtain drawn.

It cuts off the couch and TV and desk and chair and dresser one half....and the other half has the queen bed, bathrooms and closet and dresser trunk on the other.

At the prices Disney charges to cruise with Goofy, they should give you two staterooms, not two bathrooms.

Interestingly, the curtain described above could be found in NCL's ancient, much-maligned, and now-departed Norwegian Dream. It's also in all Jewel-class minisuites. Not exactly revolutionary.

[angeljt]

DCL has 2 bathrooms that have 2 solid doors. Cant see anyone in there. there is room to dry off after taking a shower in the one bathroom. When you get out wearing a towel, you can close off half of the room with long curtain cutting off 1/2 the room.

The curtain is not for the bathroom, it is so when you are sleeping you can close off the part of the room that you are in with the queen bed from the area that the kids are sleeping in the area with the bunks/sofa. It for adult privacy.

But what is nice is that you can have the kids sitting on the couch watching TV why you are on the other side of the room changing with the curtain drawn.

It cuts off the couch and TV and desk and chair and dresser one half....and the other half has the queen bed, bathrooms and closet and dresser trunk on the other.

Love the 2 bathrooms. One can shower or take a bath in one or shave.....and the other is free to go to the bathroom, brush your teeth or put makeup on at the same time. IMO it is something all cruise lines should do kids or no kids. Just make the cabins a bit bigger instead of trying to cram everyone into a little hole. As far as Cabins go DCL out of the 13 times cruising on 5 different lines.....DCL has been the best and most roomiest.
Do all of their cabins have 2 baths?

[Momof 2 boys]

At the prices Disney charges to cruise with Goofy, they should give you two staterooms, not two bathrooms.

Interestingly, the curtain described above could be found in NCL's ancient, much-maligned, and now-departed Norwegian Dream. It's also in all Jewel-class minisuites. Not exactly revolutionary.

Never said it was revolutionary....just stating that they have them...as for there prices, yes you do pay more but have also found the ship to be above board of many others. In addition to their entertainment. You do after all get what you pay for.

Do all of their cabins have 2 baths?

yes they do...here is a link of a thread I posted for those getting ready to book on monday becaue they have changed the CATs using different names. It shows the lay out of the cabins.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1065977

not sure how the 2 new ships will be but the 2 bathrooms are one of DCL signature designs and if they did away with them many would be very upset. On other cruise lines when we have had to share the BR...it was the Pitts. Nothing worse when ya got-sta go and someone is in there showering.....:eek:

[sottovoce]

Never said it was revolutionary....just stating that they have them...as for there prices, yes you do pay more but have also found the ship to be above board of many others. In addition to their entertainment. You do after all get what you pay for.

You'll have to convince me you get three times as much on Disney as on NCL. I'm guessing it's a typical Disney rip-off, like everything in Orlando. And Goofy and company are a complete turn-off.

[pokeypoke]

You'll have to convince me you get three times as much on Disney as on NCL. I'm guessing it's a typical Disney rip-off, like everything in Orlando. And Goofy and company are a complete turn-off.

While I happen to LOVE Disneyland, WDW and Disneyland Paris and have paid an arm and a leg to visit these parks in the past (Yes, Mickey milks you for every penny he can), I do have to agree with sottovoce in regards to sailing NCL (Epic, in specific) as opposed to DCL ONLY because of the cost factor. I'm not saying that NCL is better than Disney nor vise-versa. I get it that on DCL you are paying for the "Magical Experience" and you have the characters and all but unless you have little ones, is paying 3x's as much for that experience worth it when I can pay less for the same amount of days onboard Epic? Again, I am not bashing DCL and would love to sail one of the ships but in today's economy, my budget does not allow it. Sorry if I've gone off topic

[Momof 2 boys]

While I happen to LOVE Disneyland, WDW and Disneyland Paris and have paid an arm and a leg to visit these parks in the past (Yes, Mickey milks you for every penny he can), I do have to agree with sottovoce in regards to sailing NCL (Epic, in specific) as opposed to DCL ONLY because of the cost factor. I'm not saying that NCL is better than Disney nor vise-versa. I get it that on DCL you are paying for the "Magical Experience" and you have the characters and all but unless you have little ones, is paying 3x's as much for that experience worth it when I can pay less for the same amount of days onboard Epic? Again, I am not bashing DCL and would love to sail one of the ships but in today's economy, my budget does not allow it. Sorry if I've gone off topic


this thread is about the showers/bathrooms. sinks.....and of course ? about the privacy curtain. In my first post about this I was stating how we have been on 13 cruises...one of which is DCL and how they have 2 bathrooms and how compared to other cruise lines it is a great idea.

For those that have sailed DCL get what I mean with the 2 bathrooms...those that have not, dont. I have loved all the ships we have been on. I favor DCL as knowledgeably some do not. No big deal.

But remember to some of you(not the poster above) dont knock a ship or cruise line till ya been on it.

I came in here because I am interested in the EPIC......We are booked for our next 2 cruises and am looking at making the EPIC our 16th. I am not here to sell DCL I am here to be sold on the EPIC. And as for this cabin with the shower the way it is just would not work for us so we will look into a different cabin.

[hat776]

Well, I understood that if you draw the curtain when using the shower you are closing off access to the sink, toilet and cabin door.
Alot of the problems are solved = all that I would want is somewhere to hang a towel , robe, underclothes while I shower and being able to use them in privacy when I get out.

[Momof 2 boys]

You'll have to convince me you get three times as much on Disney as on NCL. I'm guessing it's a typical Disney rip-off, like everything in Orlando. And Goofy and company are a complete turn-off.

No need to get huffy is there????? so ya dont like Disney....no problem. You will never sail DCL...no problem :D

I cant convince you to go on a Disney cruise......no problem, I was not trying to do that in the first place :D

so now that we have that all taken care of can we get back on topic of the bathrooms...:D

[sbwmail]

DCL has 2 bathrooms
.


We were on the Disney Magic, not all the cabins have two baths, we had one!)

[pokeypoke]

this thread is about the showers/bathrooms. sinks.....and of course ? about the privacy curtain. In my first post about this I was stating how we have been on 13 cruises...one of which is DCL and how they have 2 bathrooms and how compared to other cruise lines it is a great idea.

For those that have sailed DCL get what I mean with the 2 bathrooms...those that have not, dont. I have loved all the ships we have been on. I favor DCL as knowledgeably some do not. No big deal.

But remember to some of you(not the poster above) dont knock a ship or cruise line till ya been on it.

I came in here because I am interested in the EPIC......We are booked for our next 2 cruises and am looking at making the EPIC our 16th. I am not here to sell DCL I am here to be sold on the EPIC. And as for this cabin with the shower the way it is just would not work for us so we will look into a different cabin.

One suggestion you may or may not have thought about concerning the cabin bathroom concern - book an adjoining cabin. Your two grown boys will have there own privacy, you and your husband will have your privacy and at any time, you can open the adjoining door to make both rooms one or close the door and have 2 seperate cabins.

[Chuck2810]

Wow - with all this discussion, it seems like many folks' entire trips are occupied by time in the bathroom. I just wanted to point out that there are many activities to do on-board and the 10-30 minutes a day set aside for the bathroom activities is really not the high point. Try an excursion, walk the decks, have a drink. It is really not the only thing to worry about. Relax and enjoy - you are on vacation.:)

[sottovoce]

Epic's Courtyard Villas offer two full bathrooms, sleep six, with separate bedroom (actually two), plus butler, concierge, private courtyard with all it's perqs (e.g., separate pool and lounging area), and private villas-only dining room, at a price about three times a standard balcony. That should be comparable to a DCL price. No Goofy, though.

[PokerDave]

this thread is about the showers/bathrooms. sinks.....and of course ? about the privacy curtain. In my first post about this I was stating how we have been on 13 cruises...one of which is DCL and how they have 2 bathrooms and how compared to other cruise lines it is a great idea.

For those that have sailed DCL get what I mean with the 2 bathrooms...those that have not, dont. I have loved all the ships we have been on. I favor DCL as knowledgeably some do not. No big deal.

But remember to some of you(not the poster above) dont knock a ship or cruise line till ya been on it.

I came in here because I am interested in the EPIC......We are booked for our next 2 cruises and am looking at making the EPIC our 16th. I am not here to sell DCL I am here to be sold on the EPIC. And as for this cabin with the shower the way it is just would not work for us so we will look into a different cabin.

Hmmm... Will not work? I can see, I don't like it. I can see, Not for me... But I don't see will not work...

Just to be clear of my understanding of the arrangements in the Balcony and Inside rooms, which may or may not be what you are looking at mom as some of the discussion in this thread has been aimed at the spa suites which are a bit different config. But the vast majority of family rooms are insides and balconies...

There is a privacy curtain that encloses the shower and the toilet area, but not the sink. The only downside to this config in my opinion is the lack of access to the main door ( if you want privacy which I certainly think most folks would in situations other than couples ) while you are using the shower or the toilet. You can now use the sink while someone else showers which is nice. Couples may never even pull the curtain. And EVERYONE gains floorspace when no one is showering or using the toilet. Sharing a cruise cabin with 4 people means every sq ft counts.

Why would this "Not Work" for you? Unless you really mean you need 2 bathrooms or seperate rooms for privacy. In which case I really don't think that is what this thread is about. It is more about the difference in a typical cabin of having one closed bathroom/shower/sink combo vs the new Epic design...

[sjbdtz]

We, my family and I have been on 13 cruises....our favorite I must say so far is the DCL (Disney cruise line) and we love that they have 2 bathrooms. One has a sink and toilet and the other a shower/tub/sink. It is so great. The cabins are a good family size. And there is also a curtain that you can close off to separate half the room and change. The boys are older know so we just get two cabins.

So how would we do in this cabin if we were all in one ....well IMO it would feel very unprivate. I have 2 teen boys, I would have to say...okay close your eyes I need to change. So they would sit on the bed and close there eyes why I put on my underclothing. And the same would go for them.

this thread is about the showers/bathrooms. sinks.....and of course ? about the privacy curtain. In my first post about this I was stating how we have been on 13 cruises...one of which is DCL and how they have 2 bathrooms and how compared to other cruise lines it is a great idea.

But remember to some of you(not the poster above) dont knock a ship or cruise line till ya been on it.

I came in here because I am interested in the EPIC......We are booked for our next 2 cruises and am looking at making the EPIC our 16th. I am not here to sell DCL I am here to be sold on the EPIC. And as for this cabin with the shower the way it is just would not work for us so we will look into a different cabin.


Okay... now I'm curious. Since your sons will be in a different cabin, and all of your discussion has been hypothetical.... and since you aren't knocking the ship (since you haven't been on it)....and since nobody really knows how the showers are set up yet....why exactly is it that the arrangement won't work for you?

[AFT_LOVER]

at Caesar's Palace, which Apollo owns, to show off Epic to Latitudes members. I was there but all there was were large photos of the staerooms, the lounges, restaurants, entertainment areas, pool, and sports area. Now we see photos thanks to Dan at CC who took photos of the skeletons with easels and photos at the entrance to all of them.The ship is built, now to fill it up with staterooms, restaurants, bars, etertainment areas & restaurants. I am guessing within 2 months it should start to look like a ship so more photos to be taken.

I saw fogged blue glass for shower & wooden door for toilet. Now I am told that our SPA BALCONY has a tub with the shower, yet go to the Mandaras Spa web site where they talk about Epic & see jacuzzis, which Apollo owns, at the window next to the balcony door. The photos of suites showed jacuzzis outside on the balcony. None shown inside staterooms. 2 hooks are to be on the shower door for robes, or whatever you want to pit on when you are done.

But now we are told by the bosses at NCL that they still have no answers since she is the first 150,000 lb vessel and what they plan to do with them all. So they want the best for us also.


Okay... now I'm curious. Since your sons will be in a different cabin, and all of your discussion has been hypothetical.... and since you aren't knocking the ship (since you haven't been on it)....and since nobody really knows how the showers are set up yet....why exactly is it that the arrangement won't work for you?

[Momof 2 boys]

Epic's Courtyard Villas offer two full bathrooms, sleep six, with separate bedroom (actually two), plus butler, concierge, private courtyard with all it's perqs (e.g., separate pool and lounging area), and private villas-only dining room, at a price about three times a standard balcony. That should be comparable to a DCL price. No Goofy, though.

This is most likely what we would do. But must add would be less expensive the other way.



Why would this "Not Work" for you? Unless you really mean you need 2 bathrooms or seperate rooms for privacy. In which case I really don't think that is what this thread is about. It is more about the difference in a typical cabin of having one closed bathroom/shower/sink combo vs the new Epic design...[/quote]

This is what the OP asked....so this is what I went with...it kinda went off topic from there.

:confused:looking at epic photos it looks like you can see into shower and toilet also you are straight into room from the shower nowhere for towel as i`m sharing with my grand daughter if this is true it wouldn`t really be suitable maybe i`m wrong, hope so as ship looks great . can anyone let me know. thankyou


[quote=sjbdtz;21414179]Okay... now I'm curious. Since your sons will be in a different cabin, and all of your discussion has been hypothetical.... and since you aren't knocking the ship (since you haven't been on it)....and since nobody really knows how the showers are set up yet....why exactly is it that the arrangement won't work for you?

I am going as everyone else is by the picture of this cabin posted. And already posted why it may not work for us. Not all cabins on a ship are made to suit everyone....that is why there are options.

As one of the OP said ...2 cabins would work great. As everyone else, I am curious to what would be best since she is a new ship, it is harder to judge till one sails on her. I like many may just wait till the trip reports come back and see how there cabins were.

I have already been in touch with a TA from NCL and he is pricing stuff for us on this ship and the Pearl for Alaska.

Even the STAR for a Nov weekend cruise. We have never been on NCL yet so is it no wonder I would have questions about a ship I have never sailed on and compare it to the other cruise lines I have? I may sail with NCL and be unhappy....who knows...or it may become my new Favorite.

[Momof 2 boys]

wow - with all this discussion, it seems like many folks' entire trips are occupied by time in the bathroom. I just wanted to point out that there are many activities to do on-board and the 10-30 minutes a day set aside for the bathroom activities is really not the high point. Try an excursion, walk the decks, have a drink. It is really not the only thing to worry about. Relax and enjoy - you are on vacation.:)

:D So true so true

[CanadianTwosome]

This is most likely what we would do. But must add would be less expensive the other way.



Why would this "Not Work" for you? Unless you really mean you need 2 bathrooms or seperate rooms for privacy. In which case I really don't think that is what this thread is about. It is more about the difference in a typical cabin of having one closed bathroom/shower/sink combo vs the new Epic design...[/quote]

This is what the OP asked....so this is what I went with...it kinda went off topic from there.

:confused:looking at epic photos it looks like you can see into shower and toilet also you are straight into room from the shower nowhere for towel as i`m sharing with my grand daughter if this is true it wouldn`t really be suitable maybe i`m wrong, hope so as ship looks great . can anyone let me know. thankyou


[quote=sjbdtz;21414179]Okay... now I'm curious. Since your sons will be in a different cabin, and all of your discussion has been hypothetical.... and since you aren't knocking the ship (since you haven't been on it)....and since nobody really knows how the showers are set up yet....why exactly is it that the arrangement won't work for you?

I am going as everyone else is by the picture of this cabin posted. And already posted why it may not work for us. Not all cabins on a ship are made to suit everyone....that is why there are options.

As one of the OP said ...2 cabins would work great. As everyone else, I am curious to what would be best since she is a new ship, it is harder to judge till one sails on her. I like many may just wait till the trip reports come back and see how there cabins were.

I have already been in touch with a TA from NCL and he is pricing stuff for us on this ship and the Pearl for Alaska.

Even the STAR for a Nov weekend cruise. We have never been on NCL yet so is it no wonder I would have questions about a ship I have never sailed on and compare it to the other cruise lines I have? I may sail with NCL and be unhappy....who knows...or it may become my new Favorite.

I really appreciated the information you provided about DCL's setup. :)

I'm glad to know that you're considering giving NCL a try - and I think you'll love it. We find the freestyle concept is really great for our family because we never feel the need to rush anywhere and can eat when we're hungry - which isn't always the same time when you're in and out of ports, in different time zones, and participating in different levels of activity.

I actually do think you could make a family balcony cabin 'work', though. I'll be staying in one with my husband, daughter and mother, and I'm not anticipating even the slightest of problems. As you mentioned in an earlier post, you would have to say 'Okay close your eyes I need to change'... but it would be even easier than that - you just have to say, 'Okay, I'm going to have a shower; you have the choice of staying on the other side of the curtain for a half hour or going up on deck for a half hour... and I'm sure your kids would happily oblige. With all the activities the Epic is going to have available, it's even easier; shower while they're off rapelling or sliding at the pool or hanging with their new friends at teen crew. :) Of course, higher category cabins would definitely work, since they have more space, which makes it all easier.

It's like Chuck2810 was pointing out - people generally don't spend much time doing the thing that seems to be the issue here. How long does it take to shower and get 'presentable'? Unless you're shaving your legs, the actual shower portion is going to be about 15 minutes or less; add another 15 minutes to towel off and cover up, and everyone is free to go about their business. All people have to do is accept that for a half hour, they need to relax in the part of the cabin designed for relaxing... the bed, the balcony, the sitting area... they're all on the 'other' side of the curtain. I guess the next thing on my list of issues I don't understand in this thread is the driving need people seem to be expecting to have to be between the curtain and the door while someone else is showering - or to open the door. I can plan a cruise over a year and a half in advance... I can certainly make up my mind whether I want to be inside or outside of my cabin for a half hour! :)

[pokeypoke]

I really appreciated the information you provided about DCL's setup. :)

I'm glad to know that you're considering giving NCL a try - and I think you'll love it. We find the freestyle concept is really great for our family because we never feel the need to rush anywhere and can eat when we're hungry - which isn't always the same time when you're in and out of ports, in different time zones, and participating in different levels of activity.

I actually do think you could make a family balcony cabin 'work', though. I'll be staying in one with my husband, daughter and mother, and I'm not anticipating even the slightest of problems. As you mentioned in an earlier post, you would have to say 'Okay close your eyes I need to change'... but it would be even easier than that - you just have to say, 'Okay, I'm going to have a shower; you have the choice of staying on the other side of the curtain for a half hour or going up on deck for a half hour... and I'm sure your kids would happily oblige. With all the activities the Epic is going to have available, it's even easier; shower while they're off rapelling or sliding at the pool or hanging with their new friends at teen crew. :) Of course, higher category cabins would definitely work, since they have more space, which makes it all easier.

It's like Chuck2810 was pointing out - people generally don't spend much time doing the thing that seems to be the issue here. How long does it take to shower and get 'presentable'? Unless you're shaving your legs, the actual shower portion is going to be about 15 minutes or less; add another 15 minutes to towel off and cover up, and everyone is free to go about their business. All people have to do is accept that for a half hour, they need to relax in the part of the cabin designed for relaxing... the bed, the balcony, the sitting area... they're all on the 'other' side of the curtain. I guess the next thing on my list of issues I don't understand in this thread is the driving need people seem to be expecting to have to be between the curtain and the door while someone else is showering - or to open the door. I can plan a cruise over a year and a half in advance... I can certainly make up my mind whether I want to be inside or outside of my cabin for a half hour! :)

Nicely said:)

[Momof 2 boys]

I do love the freestyle dining/freestyle concept and that is one of the things that attracts me to this line. WE usually get the main seating and either the kids have gone and eaten themselves into oblivion already or we are getting back late from an excursion. As for DCL they do have a dining area that has the same menu, well almost the same stuff that the dining room does and is freestyle. Also open till 10pm and can even go in in shorts. But sometimes in the freestyle they have the same menu a couple times and it can get boring.

I like the idea of having multiple choices. Although I have found that DCL has the best food to date from the ships we have been on, it would be fun to try the EPIC or the Pearl. Sure wish that they had more cruises out our way on the West Coast. The Star is out here and the Pearl out of Seattle for Alaska. I hate having to fly all the way to Florida all the time.

But we love the Caribbean and cruising so guess it's just how it is.

So on the restaurants that are not part of your cruise....how much cover do they charge to get into the other restaurants? Do they also charge at all to get into the night clubs?

[pokeypoke]

I do love the freestyle dining/freestyle concept and that is one of the things that attracts me to this line. WE usually get the main seating and either the kids have gone and eaten themselves into oblivion already or we are getting back late from an excursion. As for DCL they do have a dining area that has the same menu, well almost the same stuff that the dining room does and is freestyle. Also open till 10pm and can even go in in shorts. But sometimes in the freestyle they have the same menu a couple times and it can get boring.

I like the idea of having multiple choices. Although I have found that DCL has the best food to date from the ships we have been on, it would be fun to try the EPIC or the Pearl. Sure wish that they had more cruises out our way on the West Coast. The Star is out here and the Pearl out of Seattle for Alaska. I hate having to fly all the way to Florida all the time.

But we love the Caribbean and cruising so guess it's just how it is.

So on the restaurants that are not part of your cruise....how much cover do they charge to get into the other restaurants? Do they also charge at all to get into the night clubs?

Currently on the Star and the Pearl, the surcharge restaurants range in price from $10 p.p. - $25 p.p. and no charge for clubs. If you go to the "regular" NCL threads, you can search for the exact cost of each restaurant. Because the Epic has not set sail yet, the prices of the specialty restaurants are not set in stone as of yet. Speculation is that they will be similar e.i. Le Bistro will be $15 p.p. as on other NCL ships. As for clubs, I am assuming they will be free with the exception of the Ice Bar and the Epic Club (private courtyard guests).

[jeannep]

We were on the Jewel last week and we asked the Cruise Consultant about the bathroom setup on the Epic. I asked if the shower and toilet were see-thru and he said that he had been asked that question but did not know the real answer but definately feels that they would not be see-thru. He also said that he has asked a few questions and sometimes they don't even know the answer.

Jeanne

[CanadianTwosome]

We were on the Jewel last week and we asked the Cruise Consultant about the bathroom setup on the Epic. I asked if the shower and toilet were see-thru and he said that he had been asked that question but did not know the real answer but definately feels that they would not be see-thru. He also said that he has asked a few questions and sometimes they don't even know the answer.

Jeanne

On behalf of all of us here who are (impatiently) waiting for our Epic cruises, thank you for trying!! :)

[cruisedoctor]

The problem with having a shower in the room itself (as opposed to being in a conventional bathroom), is where the steam goes. In a conventional bathroom you can close the door and the steam stays within the bathroom, until it dissapates over a period of time, via the small exhaust fan. Being directly in the main room, the ENTIRE ROOM is going to become a sauna. If 2 or 3 people take showers consecutively, the room will become uninhabitable (unless you enjoy 100% humidity)?

I'm sure the purpose of this crazy design, as with the curved walls, was to maximize the number of staterooms that could be fit onto the vessel. A case where function was far less important than profitability.

Early in it's construction, NCL's parent company was seriously considering shutting down the project and taking the loss. If I'm not mistaken, management changed around that time, and while after a long delay they decided to keep going, it was determined that many design changes to the original plans would be needed. My guess is that these "in room" washroom facilities were seen as going to be problematic by a large percentage of passengers, but it was too late to do anything about them. It was at this time that NCL decided NOT to build any further EPIC-class ships.

[sjbdtz]

My guess is that these "in room" washroom facilities were seen as going to be problematic by a large percentage of passengers, but it was too late to do anything about them. It was at this time that NCL decided NOT to build any further EPIC-class ships.


Because it would be IMPOSSIBLE to create a shower / toilet / sink area by adding a wall? (really quite a simple thing to do)

[buckirj1]

The only thing that concerns me is that the toilet is going to be in one of those tiny cubbyholes like in the outside/balcony cabins on the Dawn, Jewel, Gem, etc. Frosted glass doesn't bother me, nor does the sink being outside bother me...having to cram myself into an inhumanly small space bothers me a lot!

Otherwise, I think the cabins look really great. Can't wait to see actual photos taken by actual passengers.

[Debbie's-cruising]

The only thing that concerns me is that the toilet is going to be in one of those tiny cubbyholes like in the outside/balcony cabins on the Dawn, Jewel, Gem, etc. Frosted glass doesn't bother me, nor does the sink being outside bother me...having to cram myself into an inhumanly small space bothers me a lot!

Otherwise, I think the cabins look really great. Can't wait to see actual photos taken by actual passengers.


I know exactly what you mean!!!!!:eek:

[rootbear]

:confused: If you don't mind the sink in the room without being enclosed you never had to share a cabin with two young adults who come back to the cabin late at night.

[buckirj1]

:confused: If you don't mind the sink in the room without being enclosed you never had to share a cabin with two young adults who come back to the cabin late at night.

Nope, can't say as I have. He who travels fastest (and bestest) travels alone...and that goes double for she (paraphrased from Florence King).:D

Other folks can travel in herds and packs as they wish--I ain't gonna.

[jamesboat]

I think those who are complaining about the setup would best not stay in a hotel in europe. Hell, the sink being outside the bathroom is standard at most american motels too.

[JLC@SD]

This rendering on an inside cabin shows the track in the ceiling for the curtain.


http://www.ncl.com/csimages/523/993/Epic_Inside_rendering_web.jpg

.........so.....if I am laying in bed........watching the TV.....I am also staring at the front door, the toilet, the shower and watching my wife do her makeup......dumb.....:rolleyes:

[sjbdtz]

.........so.....if I am laying in bed........watching the TV.....I am also staring at the front door, the toilet, the shower and watching my wife do her makeup......dumb.....:rolleyes:


really? your wife does her makeup on the ceiling? That TV was pretty high up.

[time2cruise1]

.........so.....if I am laying in bed........watching the TV.....I am also staring at the front door, the toilet, the shower and watching my wife do her makeup......dumb.....:rolleyes:

So book a balcony cabin and stare at the wall instead. :cool: I think all but the few sideways inside cabins on all the ships the bed faces the door and bathroom.

[CanadianTwosome]

So book a balcony cabin and stare at the wall instead. :cool: I think all but the few sideways inside cabins on all the ships the bed faces the door and bathroom.

No doubt. I have to say, this is just one more 'issue' that to me is a little silly. (my opinion) I book inside cabins almost exclusively, and due to the tiny space in the bathroom and the likelihood of someone being in the shower while I'm getting ready, I rarely put on makeup there. Of course, I also rarely look at the tv in my cabin... and I've developed the uncanny skill of being able to pay attention to what I'm doing even if other people are around me doing other things. Who knows, though? Maybe with this new design, I will inexplicably be unable to rip my eyes away from the shower door, the sink, or any other activities my family might be engaging in around me... and I will also be unable to resist opening the cabin door during the 15 minutes that someone else is in the shower... :rolleyes:

[JLC@SD]

really? your wife does her makeup on the ceiling? That TV was pretty high up.

......I believe the little dopey stool is for the makeup table.....:rolleyes:

So book a balcony cabin and stare at the wall instead. :cool: I think all but the few sideways inside cabins on all the ships the bed faces the door and bathroom.

.....and I think having the bed facing the entry door, toilet door and shower stall is just bad design.....;)

[CanadianTwosome]

......I believe the little dopey stool is for the makeup table.....:rolleyes:



.....and I think having the bed facing the entry door, toilet door and shower stall is just bad design.....;)

There has been a 'dopey stool' in all of our last three (inside) cabins. As far as I remember, none of us have ever sat on one, but they make a great 'additional shelf', since there's barely any counter space anywhere.

I think the best word to describe the design of inside cabins would be 'efficient'. They're tiny spaces, so the beds are placed in such a way as to use the space as well as possible while still being able to be used as singles or pushed together. I think the idea that if cabin layout is important to someone they should book a different category is pretty much accurate. I can't imagine any reason to book an inside cabin other than price, and at least for my family, everything that might be 'inconvenient' about the layout is something we've accepted as a trade-off for the lower fare. If we were the type of cruisers that hung out in our cabin, there's no way I would book insides; they're just not designed for that. Since all we care about in a cabin are a bed, bathroom and closet, though, they serve their purpose very well.

[sjbdtz]

......I believe the little dopey stool is for the makeup table.....:rolleyes:






NM. Was just lame reference to fact that stool is on floor (with wife), whereas TV is near ceiling....if you're watching either, the other would be hard to watch simultaneously. (angles, and such....from laying on the bed)

[luckyprincess]

Hi everyone! I've been on two RCCL cruises and am going on Freedom of the Seas in January. It will be the biggest ship we've ever been on. We saw the Oasis and have 0 desire to sail it - my bf has to walk thru Central Park 6 days a week and if we want a boardwalk and merry go round we can drive to the Jersey Shore:p But.....I by chance stumbled onto a thread about Epic (which I hadnt heard about before) and am SUPER interested. I mean, the entertainment planned alone seems incredible, the activities are something I would actually want to do, the restaurant ideas are really original and the ship looks gorgeous! So now I'm trying to gather info about NCL and Epic as a complete newbie.
I came across this thread about the bathroom and can't believe all of the naysayers. This is the greatest design, to me, with only a small flaw. I LOVE the idea of not having to go shower in the same room that my bf has just used the toilet in, being able to use the sink and mirror without walking into the same tiny room as someone showering or with steam all over the mirror. As well, I think it would be nice to not have to hear my bf knocking on the door telling me he needs the toilet when I'm showering!:rolleyes: (his uncanny timing).
The only issue I see is that the curtain goes wall to wall when there is no need for that. The toilet room door is wooden, from what I understand, so no need for a privacy curtain. The shower will be a frosted opaque glass (same as I have at home) so as far as I can tell the curtain is really just for the 'stepping out' part or for the folks that aren't intimate sharing a cabin. I think they should have the curtain just going around the shower. But why on earth would one need to be so compelled to open the door in the 15 minutes that the curtain is up? And who cares if you open it if room service knocks - just say to the showering person "hey, I'm opening the door for a minute". Not hard to do. The spa suite is even easier. I'm assuming the towel won't be actually glued to the wall:rolleyes:, so if someone knocks with room service while the curtain is drawn then just slide that tiny portion of curtain to the left, giving the same verbal warning, get your room service, shut door, close curtain - so easy!
By the way, I live in Morris County, NJ, one of the wealthiest (except for me!:D) counties in the country and many of the luxury bathrooms in the McMansions here have a similiar design. The toilet is it's own separate little room with a door to close, away from sink and shower. People prefer that because of the reasons I listed. Granted, you step out of the shower into the bathroom, but there isn't a sink in the toilet room at all so other people can use the different facilities at the same time.....
Like this kind of:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2767/4122407524_b4dea2ff0a.jpg

[CanadianTwosome]

Hi everyone! I've been on two RCCL cruises and am going on Freedom of the Seas in January. It will be the biggest ship we've ever been on. We saw the Oasis and have 0 desire to sail it - my bf has to walk thru Central Park 6 days a week and if we want a boardwalk and merry go round we can drive to the Jersey Shore:p But.....I by chance stumbled onto a thread about Epic (which I hadnt heard about before) and am SUPER interested. I mean, the entertainment planned alone seems incredible, the activities are something I would actually want to do, the restaurant ideas are really original and the ship looks gorgeous! So now I'm trying to gather info about NCL and Epic as a complete newbie.
I came across this thread about the bathroom and can't believe all of the naysayers. This is the greatest design, to me, with only a small flaw. I LOVE the idea of not having to go shower in the same room that my bf has just used the toilet in, being able to use the sink and mirror without walking into the same tiny room as someone showering or with steam all over the mirror. As well, I think it would be nice to not have to hear my bf knocking on the door telling me he needs the toilet when I'm showering!:rolleyes: (his uncanny timing).
The only issue I see is that the curtain goes wall to wall when there is no need for that. The toilet room door is wooden, from what I understand, so no need for a privacy curtain. The shower will be a frosted opaque glass (same as I have at home) so as far as I can tell the curtain is really just for the 'stepping out' part or for the folks that aren't intimate sharing a cabin. I think they should have the curtain just going around the shower. But why on earth would one need to be so compelled to open the door in the 15 minutes that the curtain is up? And who cares if you open it if room service knocks - just say to the showering person "hey, I'm opening the door for a minute". Not hard to do. The spa suite is even easier. I'm assuming the towel won't be actually glued to the wall:rolleyes:, so if someone knocks with room service while the curtain is drawn then just slide that tiny portion of curtain to the left, giving the same verbal warning, get your room service, shut door, close curtain - so easy!
By the way, I live in Morris County, NJ, one of the wealthiest (except for me!:D) counties in the country and many of the luxury bathrooms in the McMansions here have a similiar design. The toilet is it's own separate little room with a door to close, away from sink and shower. People prefer that because of the reasons I listed. Granted, you step out of the shower into the bathroom, but there isn't a sink in the toilet room at all so other people can use the different facilities at the same time.....


Welcome to the NCL boards! Some of the things you listed - like the restaurants - are part of the NCL Freestyle concept, which is fleet wide, so if you're looking for as much information as possible, make sure to check out the general NCL boards as well as this one. Here you'll find discussions more specific to the Epic, but there's a lot more to the NCL experience that you'll be able to find - or ask about - there.

I am in full agreement with you on the bathroom design, for all the same reasons. It makes perfect sense to me that people who can afford to build or remodel their own bathrooms to suit their personal needs would adopt a similar design. :)

[sverigecruiser]

I see no problem with the shower but with the sink.

Many people say that it´s a good thing that the toilet and the sink can be used at the same time, I can't see the big advantage with that. If you have used the toilet and someone else is using the sink, you can't wash your hands! Everyone may not agree but I prefer to wash my hands when I have been to the toilet!

[CanadianTwosome]

I see no problem with the shower but with the sink.

Many people say that it´s a good thing that the toilet and the sink can be used at the same time, I can't see the big advantage with that. If you have used the toilet and someone else is using the sink, you can't wash your hands! Everyone may not agree but I prefer to wash my hands when I have been to the toilet!

This is another one of the issues that I've seen come up on this thread where I wonder what kind of companions people travel with. First, how likely is it that someone in your cabin will choose that exact moment to monopolize the sink? If they do, are they really going to refuse to allow you access so that you can wash your hands?

In our home, we are not private bathroom users. We rarely close the door (unless we have guests), so family members can use the facilities in the room at the same time. I have stood beside my husband and/or daughter many times brushing teeth, and have even shared the sink while washing hands. It's just never been a problem. The person using the sink simply shifts over a bit to make room and voila! Two people can use the sink at the same time. (or one can move completely out of the way)

I've said it before and I'll say it again. We're talking about being in a cabin with people we've chosen to travel with and share a very tight space with for a week. I can only speak for myself, of course, but I just don't understand so many of these issues that to me would only be a problem if the people in your cabin with you are selfish, rude, and inconsiderate. I know I would never share a cabin with someone like that - who would open the cabin door when I was standing there naked, stare at me when I asked for privacy, or refuse to let me wash my hands after I'd used the toilet. In my opinion these issues are not so much about cabin design as they are about manners and respect.

[sverigecruiser]

This is another one of the issues that I've seen come up on this thread where I wonder what kind of companions people travel with. First, how likely is it that someone in your cabin will choose that exact moment to monopolize the sink? If they do, are they really going to refuse to allow you access so that you can wash your hands?

In our home, we are not private bathroom users. We rarely close the door (unless we have guests), so family members can use the facilities in the room at the same time. I have stood beside my husband and/or daughter many times brushing teeth, and have even shared the sink while washing hands. It's just never been a problem. The person using the sink simply shifts over a bit to make room and voila! Two people can use the sink at the same time. (or one can move completely out of the way)

I've said it before and I'll say it again. We're talking about being in a cabin with people we've chosen to travel with and share a very tight space with for a week. I can only speak for myself, of course, but I just don't understand so many of these issues that to me would only be a problem if the people in your cabin with you are selfish, rude, and inconsiderate. I know I would never share a cabin with someone like that - who would open the cabin door when I was standing there naked, stare at me when I asked for privacy, or refuse to let me wash my hands after I'd used the toilet. In my opinion these issues are not so much about cabin design as they are about manners and respect.

With the sink in the bathroom, you can choose if the door shall be opened or not. With the sink in the bedroom/livingroom, the choice isn't there.

If privace isn't important, you can still use the sink if it's in the bathroom.

I really can't see anything good with putting the sink in the bedroom/livingroom.

You say that you close the door when you have guests, how can you close the door with the sink in the bedroom/livingroom? (I mean I case you have guests in your cabin.)

[luckyprincess]

With the sink in the bathroom, you can choose if the door shall be opened or not. With the sink in the bedroom/livingroom, the choice isn't there.

If privace isn't important, you can still use the sink if it's in the bathroom.

I really can't see anything good with putting the sink in the bedroom/livingroom.

You say that you close the door when you have guests, how can you close the door with the sink in the bedroom/livingroom? (I mean I case you have guests in your cabin.)
I guess I would have to say that this design is popular where I live because, well - with the normal 'smells' that are generated by the toilet area, people really don't want to brush their teeth in the toilet vicinity, or put on make-up or what not in a not-so-fresh atmosphere. And if someone wants to touch up their make-up or brush their teeth or wash their hands, they don't have to wait for the toilet to be available to do so.

As well, it's been shown in many studies that the sink is a much less germ laden area when it is physically separated from the toilet. I'm a bit of a germaphobe (study Microbiology at school:eek:) so I much rather the sink be away from all of the splashing of the toilet.

[sverigecruiser]

I guess I would have to say that this design is popular where I live because, well - with the normal 'smells' that are generated by the toilet area, people really don't want to brush their teeth in the toilet vicinity, or put on make-up or what not in a not-so-fresh atmosphere. And if someone wants to touch up their make-up or brush their teeth or wash their hands, they don't have to wait for the toilet to be available to do so.

As well, it's been shown in many studies that the sink is a much less germ laden area when it is physically separated from the toilet. I'm a bit of a germaphobe (study Microbiology at school:eek:) so I much rather the sink be away from all of the splashing of the toilet.

I guess our **** smells better because we don't have a smell problem in our bathroom!

The sink might be less germ laden when it's physically separated from the toilet, I guess that the germ is somewhere else.... (Like in the rest of the cabin?)

[sverigecruiser]

Interesting that **** is a banned word, I have seen much worse...!

[FLAHAM]

This thread has been fantastic for over three months and I hope that we can keep it going for at least another six because I remain vitally interested in the details of Epic shower stalls.

[CanadianTwosome]

With the sink in the bathroom, you can choose if the door shall be opened or not. With the sink in the bedroom/livingroom, the choice isn't there.

If privace isn't important, you can still use the sink if it's in the bathroom.

I really can't see anything good with putting the sink in the bedroom/livingroom.

You say that you close the door when you have guests, how can you close the door with the sink in the bedroom/livingroom? (I mean I case you have guests in your cabin.)

I close the door so they don't see me on the toilet, not so that they don't see me washing my hands!! :p I am also completely comfortable with people - even complete strangers - seeing me brush my teeth, brush my hair, put on makeup - or anything else I might do in front of a mirror or a sink. :)

Also, I don't ever remember entertaining anyone in an inside cabin. As I noted in an earlier post, if socializing in my cabin were important to me, I would book a different category. So, I guess my 'other' answer to your question is that even if I were for some bizarre reason bothered by someone seeing me wash my hands, it wouldn't matter anyway since it will never come up. :)

[luckyprincess]

I guess our **** smells better because we don't have a smell problem in our bathroom!

The sink might be less germ laden when it's physically separated from the toilet, I guess that the germ is somewhere else.... (Like in the rest of the cabin?)
Lol - I was trying to not be graphic! Wow - you should either call a doctor or Ripley's if your bathroom never has any scent from what people do in the bathroom:p! That's why Glade, Clorox and Scrubbing Bubbles are such big companies! Or are you THAT guy, you know the one the old adage is about 'I guess your **** doesn't stink?'lol. Congrats - you can be the first person to answer 'That's right, it's unscented'. Too funny!
Yes, the germs, from the odorless bathroom antics:D, can spray up when the toilet flushes and just through normal use. You wouldn't BELEIVE what has been found on toothbrushes in bathrooms that looked spotless!:eek: So I guess the germs are just kept in that 'toilet closet' - unless you're flushing when the door is open!:)

[luckyprincess]

This thread has been fantastic for over three months and I hope that we can keep it going for at least another six because I remain vitally interested in the details of Epic shower stalls.
Lol - you and the other poster have made me look like a crazy person laughing out loud at my computer.....my dog must think I've lost it!

[sverigecruiser]

I close the door so they don't see me on the toilet, not so that they don't see me washing my hands!! :p I am also completely comfortable with people - even complete strangers - seeing me brush my teeth, brush my hair, put on makeup - or anything else I might do in front of a mirror or a sink. :)

Also, I don't ever remember entertaining anyone in an inside cabin. As I noted in an earlier post, if socializing in my cabin were important to me, I would book a different category. So, I guess my 'other' answer to your question is that even if I were for some bizarre reason bothered by someone seeing me wash my hands, it wouldn't matter anyway since it will never come up. :)

Maybe you are completely comfortable with people seeing you brush your teeth but are you sure that other people are interested in seeing you brush your teeth?

You mention inside cabins but not only inside cabins has that, in my opinion, crazy layout.

This is NOT a big problem for me, I can book a cabin with the sink in the bedroom/livingroom but I just can't see anything positive with that layout.

[sverigecruiser]

Lol - I was trying to not be graphic! Wow - you should either call a doctor or Ripley's if your bathroom never has any scent from what people do in the bathroom:p! That's why Glade, Clorox and Scrubbing Bubbles are such big companies! Or are you THAT guy, you know the one the old adage is about 'I guess your **** doesn't stink?'lol. Congrats - you can be the first person to answer 'That's right, it's unscented'. Too funny!
Yes, the germs, from the odorless bathroom antics:D, can spray up when the toilet flushes and just through normal use. You wouldn't BELEIVE what has been found on toothbrushes in bathrooms that looked spotless!:eek: So I guess the germs are just kept in that 'toilet closet' - unless you're flushing when the door is open!:)

If the toilet is used and the hands are washed before opening the door, the smell that might have occured will most likely stay in the bathroom. If you use the toilet and then immediately open the door and go into the bedroom/livingroom, the smell will most likely follow you!

As for the germs, most NCL-ships has a door between the toilet and the sink so if spraying is the problem, most of the germs will stay in the "toilet closet" even with the old layout so I see no problem with that.

I promise that I will wash my hands after every time I have used the toilet even with the sink in the bedroom/livingroom but I'm 100% sure that many will forget it when the sink isn't in the bathroom, I don't like it but maybe you don't mind since you like the new layout!

As said before, this is NOT a big problem for me and I can book a cabin with the sink in the bedroom/livingroom, I just can't see anything good with the new layout.

[luckyprincess]

I promise that I will wash my hands after every time I have used the toilet even with the sink in the bedroom/livingroom but I'm 100% sure that many will forget it when the sink isn't in the bathroom, I don't like it but maybe you don't mind since you like the new layout!

As said before, this is NOT a big problem for me and I can book a cabin with the sink in the bedroom/livingroom, I just can't see anything good with the new layout.
Maybe that's what they should do - along with your cruise documents should be a pledge to sign stating you will wash your hands regardless of if the sink is next to the toilet or in the other room :p. I do like the new layout so don't mind, that's true - but to each his own. For me, as I stated, the benefit is not having to use a sink that's next to a toilet, or steamed up by a shower. Plus, with the whole shower issue, I have never gotten out of the shower and put my outfit on in the bathroom. I have always thrown on a robe. After I'm a bit more dry I then apply scented lotion, let that absorb, THEN my clothes. So I guess the high maintenance takes care of the shower issue for me! :D
I will like to hear if it did indeed cause any issues after people sail on it. I've never been on any NCL ship yet - Epic has drawn me here, so it's been fun for me to see what's different. I just can't believe how many people would let the bathroom issue make them not book a ship! I'm glad I'm not as set in my ways so that I can 'go with the flow' but I don't discredit anyone that feels that strongly about it - as I said, to each his/her own.

[sverigecruiser]

As I said, I'm not one of thoose who can't book the Epic because of the the stupid layout. I'm sure that I will enjoy her anyway but I should enjoy her more with a real bathroom separated from the bedroom/livingroom.

[CanadianTwosome]

Maybe you are completely comfortable with people seeing you brush your teeth but are you sure that other people are interested in seeing you brush your teeth?

You mention inside cabins but not only inside cabins has that, in my opinion, crazy layout.

This is NOT a big problem for me, I can book a cabin with the sink in the bedroom/livingroom but I just can't see anything positive with that layout.

From what I've seen, the inside cabins are the only ones where there's 'no place to go' - so anyone not in the toilet or shower is visible to everyone else in the cabin unless you make a concerted effort to avert your eyes. Since there are no OV cabins, every other category has a balcony where anyone squeamish about seeing people brush their teeth can relax and enjoy the view while such things are going on.

I'm not even sure how to answer the question about people being interested in seeing me brush my teeth. Why would I even think about it? I brush my teeth in my bathroom or in the privacy of my cabin - if someone chooses to be in either place at times when people normally brush teeth, they shouldn't be surprised if they see it happen, and that's up to them. I'm not going to neglect my dental hygeine because someone is weirded out by it and doesn't have the sense to turn away. :p

Edit: I just thought I'd add that I disagree about people not washing hands as a result of the layout. I believe there are two kinds of people - well, three I guess... There are those that DO wash their hands every time they use the toilet, and I don't believe these people will suddenly stop thinking it important simply because they have to take a couple of extra steps. Then there are those who do not wash their hands every time - and I think there are actually two different groups of them - those that never do it no matter what, and those that do it if they think someone is watching - so in fact, those ones might actually wash their hands more with this layout. JMO, as usual. :)

[sverigecruiser]

From what I've seen, the inside cabins are the only ones where there's 'no place to go' - so anyone not in the toilet or shower is visible to everyone else in the cabin unless you make a concerted effort to avert your eyes. Since there are no OV cabins, every other category has a balcony where anyone squeamish about seeing people brush their teeth can relax and enjoy the view while such things are going on.

I'm not even sure how to answer the question about people being interested in seeing me brush my teeth. Why would I even think about it? I brush my teeth in my bathroom or in the privacy of my cabin - if someone chooses to be in either place at times when people normally brush teeth, they shouldn't be surprised if they see it happen, and that's up to them. I'm not going to neglect my dental hygeine because someone is weirded out by it and doesn't have the sense to turn away. :p

Edit: I just thought I'd add that I disagree about people not washing hands as a result of the layout. I believe there are two kinds of people - well, three I guess... There are those that DO wash their hands every time they use the toilet, and I don't believe these people will suddenly stop thinking it important simply because they have to take a couple of extra steps. Then there are those who do not wash their hands every time - and I think there are actually two different groups of them - those that never do it no matter what, and those that do it if they think someone is watching - so in fact, those ones might actually wash their hands more with this layout. JMO, as usual. :)

I have never invited anyone into my cabin and I doubt that I ever will do it but if I did, and I'm sure that many does, the sink in the bedroom/livingroom is a bad idéa. If someone invite people for a drink before dinner and then decide that he/she wants to brush their teeth, how nice is that for the guests? There is no privacy in a standard balcony cabin unless the guests are forced to go out on the balcony. You may think that it's okej to see, not to mention hear, someone who is brushing their teeth but some people might not and then the layout isn't good. I have never said that the layout is a big problem, I only say that sometimes it's not that good.

I also understand that your friends and family don't care about it but I'm sure that lots of people aren't interested in seeing and hearing other persons brush their teeth even if they love that person, then the layout isn't that good.

I agree with you that some people will wash their hands when the sink is in the bedroom/livingroom just because someone might see them but I think that more people will skip it because of the layout, especially if someone else already is using the sink.

On our NCL-cruise last spring I had a very long conversation with the Chief Engineer and he agreed about the bad layout so it's not only me. I know that he shall agree with the passengers but we had a very long talk, probably around 45 minutes, and we talked about other things too and I didn't got the feeling that he just agreed to be nice.

Still friends? At least we can agree that we disagree, right?

[CanadianTwosome]

I have never invited anyone into my cabin and I doubt that I ever will do it but if I did, and I'm sure that many does, the sink in the bedroom/livingroom is a bad idéa. If someone invite people for a drink before dinner and then decide that he/she wants to brush their teeth, how nice is that for the guests? There is no privacy in a standard balcony cabin unless the guests are forced to go out on the balcony. You may think that it's okej to see, not to mention hear, someone who is brushing their teeth but some people might not and then the layout isn't good. I have never said that the layout is a big problem, I only say that sometimes it's not that good.

I also understand that your friends and family don't care about it but I'm sure that lots of people aren't interested in seeing and hearing other persons brush their teeth even if they love that person, then the layout isn't that good.

I agree with you that some people will wash their hands when the sink is in the bedroom/livingroom just because someone might see them but I think that more people will skip it because of the layout, especially if someone else already is using the sink.

On our NCL-cruise last spring I had a very long conversation with the Chief Engineer and he agreed about the bad layout so it's not only me. I know that he shall agree with the passengers but we had a very long talk, probably around 45 minutes, and we talked about other things too and I didn't got the feeling that he just agreed to be nice.

Still friends? At least we can agree that we disagree, right?

Ha ha ha Of course! I've just been answering from my own perspective here. I don't presume to represent anyone but myself, and this thread proves beyond any doubt that there are plenty of people that feel it's a bad design. Since they're all people, too, I think it would be completely unrealistic to expect every NCL employee to like it.

I should add, also, that I'm prepared to get on board and find out that I don't like the layout as much as I'm expecting to. It's just impossible to know for certain until I'm actually there - though I am really, really sure. :p For me, though, the fact is that cabin design is at the bottom of my list of priorities when I cruise. I just don't spend enough time there, so I'd rather not spend much money there either - and I'm happy to put up with lack of space and any design flaws I may find in lieu of higher fares. :)

[bahamaman]

Maybe its me, but I don"t see what the big deal is! I have stayed at several hotels in suites that have a wet bar, which means I don't have to rinse out a glass in the bathroom sink. I have booked the Epic and if my wife (with whom I have been with for the last 17 years) is brushing her teeth in our cabin in plain view at the sink, somehow it won't bother me in the least. With a seperate shower and toilet setup you can still use the toilet while someone might be in the shower. I am more concerned about the other ameneties when booking a cabin like; bedding, balcony, view, location, tv, coffee maker,
refrigerator, mini-bar, etc. I have yet to have stayed at any resort, hotel, or condo where I have been impressed by the bathroom layout.

[sverigecruiser]

Maybe its me, but I don"t see what the big deal is! I have stayed at several hotels in suites that have a wet bar, which means I don't have to rinse out a glass in the bathroom sink. I have booked the Epic and if my wife (with whom I have been with for the last 17 years) is brushing her teeth in our cabin in plain view at the sink, somehow it won't bother me in the least. With a seperate shower and toilet setup you can still use the toilet while someone might be in the shower. I am more concerned about the other ameneties when booking a cabin like; bedding, balcony, view, location, tv, coffee maker,
refrigerator, mini-bar, etc. I have yet to have stayed at any resort, hotel, or condo where I have been impressed by the bathroom layout.

If the main reason to have a sink is to be able to rinse out a glass, I agree that the sink shall be in the bedroom/livingroom. NCL have people paid to rinse out glasses so I normally use the sink for other things than that.

I have no problem with waiting to use the toilet or shower for a short while when I'm on a cruise, I do that all the time when I'm home and why shall I stress more on a cruise?

[sverigecruiser]

Ha ha ha Of course! I've just been answering from my own perspective here. I don't presume to represent anyone but myself, and this thread proves beyond any doubt that there are plenty of people that feel it's a bad design. Since they're all people, too, I think it would be completely unrealistic to expect every NCL employee to like it.

I should add, also, that I'm prepared to get on board and find out that I don't like the layout as much as I'm expecting to. It's just impossible to know for certain until I'm actually there - though I am really, really sure. :p For me, though, the fact is that cabin design is at the bottom of my list of priorities when I cruise. I just don't spend enough time there, so I'd rather not spend much money there either - and I'm happy to put up with lack of space and any design flaws I may find in lieu of higher fares. :)

The bad thing for you is that if you for some reason don't like the new layout, you might be disappointed! In case I should like the layout, I will be happy!

I must also say that I doubt that the new design make the fares lower, the new design has defenitely made the ship more expensive to build.

Since some people like the new design, maybe they could have some categories with a real bathroom and some without. I know it's too late for that now but they should have thought about it from the beginning. Most people don't care very much about the layout and will book a cruise on the Epic but some people will hate it and stay away from the Epic because of it and then it's bad business for NCL.

[CanadianTwosome]

The bad thing for you is that if you for some reason don't like the new layout, you might be disappointed! In case I should like the layout, I will be happy!

I must also say that I doubt that the new design make the fares lower, the new design has defenitely made the ship more expensive to build.

Since some people like the new design, maybe they could have some categories with a real bathroom and some without. I know it's too late for that now but they should have thought about it from the beginning. Most people don't care very much about the layout and will book a cruise on the Epic but some people will hate it and stay away from the Epic because of it and then it's bad business for NCL.

Nope, not a bad thing at all, because as I've noted, I just don't care about cabin layout. I don't particularly like the layout of any of the cabins I've been in so far, to tell the truth - which is why I'm expecting to like these better; one of the things I've always disliked about the cabins I've been in has been the tiny bathroom and having to use it when it's steamy. Even if I find I don't like it as much as I expect, I can't like it any less! :p Like I've said many times, if I cared about cabin layout, I'd book a different category. :)

Also, to clarify, I didn't mean to imply that the cabins were less expensive due to the new design (or any design), but that I believe people book inside cabins for the price, not the design, and that - at least for me - any design 'flaws' are worth 'putting up with' for the lower fare. I do think that cruise lines try to squeeze as many lower-category cabins as they can into the space available, though, so the design tends to reflect that. I think their reasoning in this new design was to keep as much open space as they could in the smaller cabins, while still providing all the necessities; beds, toilet, shower, and sink.

As with all aspects of cruising, some will like this and some won't. I really don't think it will turn out to be as big a deal as people are making it out to be. I've been cruising since 1975 with the 'usual' bathrooms and hating them hasn't stopped me yet! Nobody expects every single cruiser to visit every single ship, but some will visit all and all will be visited by some; the Epic will be no exception. I have no doubt that she will have passengers booked on every sailing, wierd bathroom layout or not. :)

[WeBeGone]

I don't care about the bathroom as long as my cabin has one. :D
My old man is the only one who will be in the cabin with me and if he hasn't seen it yet, after 28 years, he never will. :eek:

[hat776]

I think having the toilet and shower separate is a brilliant idea.
Having the sink in the bathroom is also for me brilliant
I usually wake up before my husband and every morning it's the usual discussion "who is going to use the bathroom first"
This way I could use the toilet than go to the shower. At the same time my husband could shave and use the toilet. Then while he uses the shower the sink is free for me.
The only thing that I see a problem is having to get out of the shower naked directly into the room. The stall seems to go up to the ceiling so you can't hang a towel or robe over the top.
The privacy curtain (has it been confirmed that the line on the ceiling is a curtain track not just a design) should solve that. I still agree with those who think a curtain track curving round the shower would be the best solution.
The toilets on aeroplanes are tiny yet they still have wash hand basins in them. Maybe there'll be something similar on the Epic.

[sjbdtz]

I usually wake up before my husband and every morning it's the usual discussion "who is going to use the bathroom first"



I hope it's you....he's still in bed!!! ;)

[medicalma'am]

I am an nurse working in an intensive care unit and the hand sanitizers have been proven to be as effective and handwashing. We have sanitizer dispensers EVERYWHERE in our brand new state of the art building. WE also learn HOW to wash our hands: turn on the water with the back of the hand (made possible by the handle design) wet hands, dispense soap, rub both hands on all surfaces using friction for at LEAST 15 seconds, rinse hands under the water with the fingertips down and elbows up again using friction for 15 seconds, use paper towels to dry hands, then turn off water with another clean dry towel. Can you see why the hand sanitizer is more popular among nurses???!!!

Just keep the sanitizer from home to use in the bathroom, open the door then wash hands in the sink in the common area.

I saw a show last week on hotel germs. They tested several things like the remote, floor, things in the bathroom including the glass glasses (I will never use them again!) door knobs, toilet handle etc. The best idea I took from the show was to place the remote in a storage size baggie to avoid germs from previous occupants. I am not a germaphobe BUT you should have seen the things they cultured from that room.

Privacy...not a problem, we will figure it out and it is only for a week. When you leave home to exist in such close quarters there are always concessions to be made for a family.

[CanadianTwosome]

I am an nurse working in an intensive care unit and the hand sanitizers have been proven to be as effective and handwashing. We have sanitizer dispensers EVERYWHERE in our brand new state of the art building. WE also learn HOW to wash our hands: turn on the water with the back of the hand (made possible by the handle design) wet hands, dispense soap, rub both hands on all surfaces using friction for at LEAST 15 seconds, rinse hands under the water with the fingertips down and elbows up again using friction for 15 seconds, use paper towels to dry hands, then turn off water with another clean dry towel. Can you see why the hand sanitizer is more popular among nurses???!!!

Just keep the sanitizer from home to use in the bathroom, open the door then wash hands in the sink in the common area.

I saw a show last week on hotel germs. They tested several things like the remote, floor, things in the bathroom including the glass glasses (I will never use them again!) door knobs, toilet handle etc. The best idea I took from the show was to place the remote in a storage size baggie to avoid germs from previous occupants. I am not a germaphobe BUT you should have seen the things they cultured from that room.

Privacy...not a problem, we will figure it out and it is only for a week. When you leave home to exist in such close quarters there are always concessions to be made for a family.

Excellent suggestion about the hand sanitizer!! I've seen some of those results and while I still use hotel room glasses, I always wash them first! I am always much happier to find the plastic, individually wrapped glasses in a hotel room.

I just had to really point out your last comment, too. I've been trying to make the same point, but I think you've really stated it clearly and concisely. We go on cruises with people - not necessarily family - whom we know in advance will be sharing tight quarters with us; if we're not comfortable being seen (or seeing others) doing the things we do in our cabins, we should at least be comfortable enough to ask our travelling companions for privacy.

[tseliot]

I like your attitude Wink!!

[obmarcr]

i don't care about the bathroom as long as my cabin has one. :d
my old man is the only one who will be in the cabin with me and if he hasn't seen it yet, after 28 years, he never will. :eek:


ha..ha, lol!!

[obmarcr]

i don't care about the bathroom as long as my cabin has one. :d
my old man is the only one who will be in the cabin with me and if he hasn't seen it yet, after 28 years, he never will. :eek:


ha..ha...lol!!

[SueSea]

I gotta take exception to the posters who say those who don't like the new design aren't open to change. I love change--in fact, I always try to book a different ship or different ports. Changing things up keeps 'em from getting boring. That said, loving change doesn't mean I have to love every change. I think the new design is best for those who are intimate (if you're not, you will be;)). Or for those less modest than I. I've traveled with many different companions. My last few trips have been with my Mom, sister, and my 20-year-old nephew. We've managed to make traveling together in small cabins work. It would be more of an effort to make these cabins work for us, but who needs effort on vacation? There has been some debate on whether or not the cabins will have privacy curtains, which would help. No one seems to know for sure. But even if they do have curtains, with the range of ages in our cabin being 21 to 74, we keep different hours. We old folks will be trying to sleep while my nephew is brushing his teeth & washing his hands. In our situation, having one enclosed bathroom with all the facilities works best in terms of privacy and quiet.

And to whomever mentioned having the sink in the room with the toliet meant you get germs on your hands when you turn off the faucet or open the door--the faucets and door handles are levers. They can be operated with an elbow.

And to those who say you shouldn't knock something unless you try it, I tried something very similar. I stayed in the West Wing suites at MGM Grand. Those rooms have the bathroom area right next to the door to the room. The shower stall was only partially frosted, and there was no curtain to close off the area for privacy. The room worked for me as I was traveling by myself, but I did make a mental note NOT to book there when traveling with a friend or my nephew. It's not that we couldn't make it work. But if no one would use any of the facilities when someone else is using another, or if no one can enter or exit the room when someone's in the shower, then we don't need a room where they are split up. There are way too many other options that don't require making something work.

[time2cruise1]

There has been some debate on whether or not the cabins will have privacy curtains, which would help. No one seems to know for sure. .

No debate on this one issue. It has been clearly stated by NCL that there are privacy curtains.

[SueSea]

No debate on this one issue. It has been clearly stated by NCL that there are privacy curtains.

I may not have read this entire thread as closely as I thought. I did not see the post noting the privacy curtains have been confirmed. The only posts I saw were from some who thought they saw a track for the privacy curtain in the renderings and some who said that track was actually recessed lighting. If you could please tell me where NCL stated there are privacy curtains, I would appreciate it.

[time2cruise1]

I may not have read this entire thread as closely as I thought. I did not see the post noting the privacy curtains have been confirmed. The only posts I saw were from some who thought they saw a track for the privacy curtain in the renderings and some who said that track was actually recessed lighting. If you could please tell me where NCL stated there are privacy curtains, I would appreciate it.

I prefer to get information from NCL not just CC. Andy Stuart SVP NCL on the Nov 6 webcast answered this question directly. He made it very clear that the curtains are real and in fact refereed to them as "heavy" curtains.

[time2cruise1]

For those that still doubt the curtains are in place take some time to listen to the NCLU Epic radio webcast on the Epic 34 minutes in Andy addresses the issue with more details at 37:30. Lots of other great details on the cabin .

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/nclu

You can download the slides for this webcast before opening the audio. Don't do it after you start to listen or the audio will start over.

[SueSea]

I prefer to get information from NCL not just CC. Andy Stuart SVP NCL on the Nov 6 webcast answered this question directly. He made it very clear that the curtains are real and in fact refereed to them as "heavy" curtains.

Thanks for the response. I, too, prefer to get the info directly from the source. I figured I would ask someone to point me to the post that confirmed this info so I could see if they quoted their source. If they didn't, or if it wasn't verifiable, I would not have considered that confirmation. I appreciate your posting the link to the radio webcast.

[ohioNCLcruiser]

I went to the cabin factory in France and walked through the mock ups. Like said above, the cabin curtain is there!

James

[jeannep]

I went to the cabin factory in France and walked through the mock ups. Like said above, the cabin curtain is there!

James


Thanks for the info. Is the glass shower clear glass or frosted glass. I really hope it is frosted.

[AmyinVail]

The frosted glass isn't anything new to NCL. On the Dawn, we had an AB and the master bathroom toilet room had a semi-frosted glass door. What I find to be inconvenient is the D1 (and maybe all other balcony cabins) don't have a heavy curtain between the bed and the pull out sofa. We had to cruise in an AF on the Star and that was the only privacy from the children. Hoping my upsell luck continues on my upcoming Epic cruise and I'm not in the D1 at sailing......

[sverigecruiser]

The frosted glass isn't anything new to NCL. On the Dawn, we had an AB and the master bathroom toilet room had a semi-frosted glass door. What I find to be inconvenient is the D1 (and maybe all other balcony cabins) don't have a heavy curtain between the bed and the pull out sofa. We had to cruise in an AF on the Star and that was the only privacy from the children. Hoping my upsell luck continues on my upcoming Epic cruise and I'm not in the D1 at sailing......


Since the AB has a separate livingroom it's a completely different thing, can't be compared to a cabin where the toilet room is located in the bedroom/livingroom.

[Dadmech]

sjbdtz,
I agree! She explained that pretty well!

[alexella]

Looks like if your in the shower or using the toilet and room service comes they are going to get more than a tip!!!!:eek:

[time2cruise1]

Looks like if your in the shower or using the toilet and room service comes they are going to get more than a tip!!!!:eek:

You would have to be a bit foolish to order room service and then jump in the shower. :eek: Nothing more then a tip unless you let them in after they call to say they are on the way. :rolleyes:

[ocdb8r]

Um, actually, on my last cruise I took the opportunity to order room service while my SO was in the shower. Wanted to surprise her with a nice post shore excursion snack since we had essentially skipped lunch. She was very greatful that I was so thoughtful while she cleaned up...however, I don't think she would have opened the door to room service if we were on the Epic.

The only real problem I see is cabin stewards...I am pretty good about using the "wheel" but I know many do not set their do not disturb. I can imagine many situations where the steward knocks and someone in the shower cannot properly reply before it is "too late."

[ranchette]

In the family deluxe balcony rooms there is a tub & a shower. I wonder where this will be located.

[negc]

In the family deluxe balcony rooms there is a tub & a shower. I wonder where this will be located.
Hopefully not on the deluxe balcony.:D

[*Wink*]

The frosted glass isn't anything new to NCL. On the Dawn, we had an AB and the master bathroom toilet room had a semi-frosted glass door. What I find to be inconvenient is the D1 (and maybe all other balcony cabins) don't have a heavy curtain between the bed and the pull out sofa. We had to cruise in an AF on the Star and that was the only privacy from the children. Hoping my upsell luck continues on my upcoming Epic cruise and I'm not in the D1 at sailing......
My PCC assured me there are curtains in all cabins with this type of shower/WC configuration. Even the Balcony cabins, because that's what we booked.

She told me yesterday that she just recently saw real pictures that showed the curtain, or at least where the curtain will be placed. And yes, I asked her if she could email me the pics, and she said they weren't allowed to show them to guests yet. Especially those who post a lot on CC. :D

[time2cruise1]

In the family deluxe balcony rooms there is a tub & a shower. I wonder where this will be located.


We will have to wait and see. I would guess in the same location as the shower in a regular balcony. Keep in mind it is a tub with a shower. Not a seperate shower and tub. That same configuration as is in a mini suite on the Jewel class ships and fits in the same space as the shower. Not a big tub. Also not ALL family deluxe balcony rooms have the tub/shower combo.

[TEACRUISER]

Not sure if it is the same thing but I stayed in a hotel in Vegas once and the bathroom door and walls were crystal clear. Sort of strange. But as soon as you close the door and turn the light on the glass goes completely frosty. Cant see a thing.

[fkwok]

Looks like if your in the shower or using the toilet and room service comes they are going to get more than a tip!!!!:eek:

well, does that make it a dinner and a show?

my daughter thinks the toilet is horrible. she thinks that when she is using the toilet someone will see her from the hallway if the door opens.

[fkwok]

Hopefully not on the deluxe balcony.:D

too funny!

[fkwok]

well, i do admit that having the sink in the main living area is a downer for me. i usually wake up very early to go run and i like locking myself in the bathroom to brush my teeth, and do my other bodily functions, before heading out the door. This avoids waking up my dw and dd while i do all this. And I am usually back before they wake up so I do back inside to brush my teeth and shower. Again, having an enclosed bathroom is better for me. but i am more than willing to try anything once.

[sjbdtz]

but i am more than willing to try anything once.


Have you tried jumping off a tall building to see if you can fly?


Not suggesting you should....just wondering.

[BaltimoreChickadee]

I just can't believe how many people would let the bathroom issue make them not book a ship! I'm glad I'm not as set in my ways so that I can 'go with the flow' but I don't discredit anyone that feels that strongly about it - as I said, to each his/her own.

agreed! it is what it is. but to each their own i suppose. i walk around my house naked all the time, so my hubby seeing me in the buff isn't something that would bug me. i actually like the shower & toilet closet being separate. my hubby takes quite long showers, so it's good to know the toilet would be available to me when he's in there so long!

it seems like the design on the Epic gives each cabin quite an "open feel", and i like that! excited to get on that ship!

[pokeypoke]

Have you tried jumping off a tall building to see if you can fly?


Not suggesting you should....just wondering.

LMAO!!! No disrespect to fkwok but I did find your remark too funny:D!

[fkwok]

Have you tried jumping off a tall building to see if you can fly?


Not suggesting you should....just wondering.

my wife said fine as long as my life insurance is fully paid up,

[maggie5555]

my wife said fine as long as my life insurance is fully paid up,

OMG! I just choked om my coffee and it took 5 minutes to clean:D!

[fkwok]

OMG! I just choked om my coffee and it took 5 minutes to clean:D!

you don't know my wife very well do you? she wasn't joking. i always tell my co-workers that if anything ever happened to me on vacation, my wife did it.

[fkwok]

OMG! I just choked om my coffee and it took 5 minutes to clean:D!

i hope you meant the furniture.

[maggie5555]

i hope you meant the furniture.

NO!! My laptop!! But it is was mostly on the screen:o seems to be okay...

[cruzmaven]

agreed! it is what it is. but to each their own i suppose. i walk around my house naked all the time... my hubby takes quite long showers, so it's good to know the toilet would be available to me when he's in there so long!

Just wondering if your walking around the house naked all the time has anything to do with hubby's long showers?:cool::eek:

[maggie5555]

Just wondering if your walking around the house naked all the time has anything to do with hubby's long showers?:cool::eek:

:D:D:D OMG.."almost" hit the laptop again with my coffee!!! You guys are hilarious....love it....

[sjbdtz]

Just wondering if your walking around the house naked all the time has anything to do with hubby's long showers?:cool::eek:


THAT's funny!

[BaltimoreChickadee]

Just wondering if your walking around the house naked all the time has anything to do with hubby's long showers?:cool::eek:


that just brought a smile to my face for the first time on this crummy, rainy monday! thanks for that!!!:D:D:D

[hat776]

Couldn't NCL have mercy on us all and give a proper picture of a cabin with this infamous shower with detailed description of the shower set up

[Donh44]

I don't know if there is a curtain in the Studio rooms. The pic in the brochure, which is the one that someone sent you, is of a regular inside cabin. Bear in mind that the Studios are a new concept and are mainly and basically designed for the "single" traveller. So, it wouldn't make any difference since only one person most likely would be occupying the cabin. I, myself, like the concept. So glad that NCL took it on to make single accommodations available. Might be a new trend for the other cruise lines to follow.

Don

[maggie5555]

I don't know if there is a curtain in the Studio rooms. The pic in the brochure, which is the one that someone sent you, is of a regular inside cabin. Bear in mind that the Studios are a new concept and are mainly and basically designed for the "single" traveller. So, it wouldn't make any difference since only one person most likely would be occupying the cabin. I, myself, like the concept. So glad that NCL took it on to make single accommodations available. Might be a new trend for the other cruise lines to follow.

Don

As far as I know they were not originally designed for the single traveler. Just recently NCL decided to market them towards the single....

[pokeypoke]

As far as I know they were not originally designed for the single traveler. Just recently NCL decided to market them towards the single....

You are correct. When the Epic began bookings, the studios were not marketed towards the solo cruisers but rather had a base fare per person double occupancy. I believe the studios weren't selling as well as NCL hoped they would because many people complained they were too small for two people.

[negc]

You are correct. When the Epic began bookings, the studios were not marketed towards the solo cruisers but rather had a base fare per person double occupancy. I believe the studios weren't selling as well as NCL hoped they would because many people complained they were too small for two people.

I believe this may have been an example of the old adage that says: "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade".:D NCL took a potential negative and has turned it into a possible positive.:)

[Janespup]

It must be a european thing, but I don't know what they were thinking! I don't think I would sail this ship because of the non-private bathroon facilities.

[time2cruise1]

It must be a european thing, but I don't know what they were thinking! I don't think I would sail this ship because of the non-private bathroon facilities.

Not sure how many times this has been posted but they are as private as any ship with seperate shower and toilet rooms and a heavy curtain that closes off the end of the cabin :rolleyes:

[CanadianTwosome]

It must be a european thing, but I don't know what they were thinking! I don't think I would sail this ship because of the non-private bathroon facilities.

I guess it all depends on how you define 'private'. My mother is quite excited about the new cabin design because she'll have privacy to use the toilet while my husband is in the shower.

I've asked other posters this and have never gotten an answer... perhaps you can enlighten me... Whom do you travel with, that you are comfortable sharing a tiny ship's cabin with for a week, but whom you can't trust to give you privacy when you ask for it? It's a simple thing to draw the curtain, sit out on the balcony, or even do something as simple as looking the other way if someone is uncomfortable exiting the shower - are you expecting your travelling companion(s) to be so disrespectful as to refuse? (or to think such simple actions are 'too much to ask'?)

Please understand, I ask this question because I just do not understand the issue. I would never even consider sharing a cabin with someone that I couldn't trust to respect me and my privacy, so I'm genuinely confused when so much emphasis is put on the 'lack of privacy' due to the new design. My mother and husband had no problem sharing an inside cabin on the Dream for a week, and believe me that was a VERY small space and having the toilet in the same tiny room as the shower did NOT make a difference - it was ALL about respecting each other.

[Cruisin'cockney]

I guess it all depends on how you define 'private'. My mother is quite excited about the new cabin design because she'll have privacy to use the toilet while my husband is in the shower.

I've asked other posters this and have never gotten an answer... perhaps you can enlighten me... Whom do you travel with, that you are comfortable sharing a tiny ship's cabin with for a week, but whom you can't trust to give you privacy when you ask for it? It's a simple thing to draw the curtain, sit out on the balcony, or even do something as simple as looking the other way if someone is uncomfortable exiting the shower - are you expecting your travelling companion(s) to be so disrespectful as to refuse? (or to think such simple actions are 'too much to ask'?)

Please understand, I ask this question because I just do not understand the issue. I would never even consider sharing a cabin with someone that I couldn't trust to respect me and my privacy, so I'm genuinely confused when so much emphasis is put on the 'lack of privacy' due to the new design. My mother and husband had no problem sharing an inside cabin on the Dream for a week, and believe me that was a VERY small space and having the toilet in the same tiny room as the shower did NOT make a difference - it was ALL about respecting each other.

Well said. This is exactly why we prefer a balcony. We treat it as a separate room that I can go to when my 19 year old daughter who cruises with us needs some privacy. I think it is a room with the greatest scenic view of any room in the world, changing every few minutes as the world sails by!

[rav4lady]

I think this design makes it more private than the others. I will share a balcony cabin with a friend whom I have cruised with before in several different type of cabins and we have no problem with giving each other privacy. I also have a studio booked for myself on the TA next May. For me, the hardest thing has always been having to wait for friend to leave the bathroom for me to use the toilet, now I won't have to! I live alone and am not used to waiting on anyone! I AM used to having to push the dog and the cats out of the way when I get out of the shower tho!:eek:

[sverigecruiser]

It must be a european thing, but I don't know what they were thinking! I don't think I would sail this ship because of the non-private bathroon facilities.

No, it's not a european thing.

[pixiedustdawn]

I also had no idea what it would be like in the bathroom area on the EPIC.

I think I got a little taste of it while traveling this past February on the Gem in a A4 category.

I traveled with my dd and a friend. When we saw the door on the toilet area we were a bit taken back. We knew that we had to close the door between the two rooms if one of us needed to use the toilet or shower. We did.

We also went a bought a plastic tinkerbell tablecloth and hung it over the glass door for full privacy in the toilet area, just to make us feel better and one can still use the sink area as one was in the toilet area. Some window clings would have also helped too.

Here are some photos without the door covered. Shower and toilet are side by side. They only had frosted white stripes on them. If they had full frosted glass we may ahve liked that better.

This is the what I am thinking the bathroom may be like on EPIC.


149343

149344

149345

149346

[CruisinRoxy]

Yeah, you can pretty much see through that - yikes! :eek: Okay for hubbie and self, but I would definitely NOT feel comfortable with my 12 year old son - I don't think he would either, as he is getting to that pre-adolescent privacy stage. And who on earth wants to redecorate (ie, put up curtains, etc) on vacation? Epic can keep their shower and toilet doors, I will cruise somewhere else! But thanks for posting - that was very helpful.

[pixiedustdawn]

Yeah, you can pretty much see through that - yikes! :eek: Okay for hubbie and self, but I would definitely NOT feel comfortable with my 12 year old son - I don't think he would either, as he is getting to that pre-adolescent privacy stage. And who on earth wants to redecorate (ie, put up curtains, etc) on vacation? Epic can keep their shower and toilet doors, I will cruise somewhere else! But thanks for posting - that was very helpful.

Wow... remember this was on the Gem, not the EPIC. It may be totally different on the EPIC.

I am sailing on the EPIC and wouldn't jump to a decision like that so quickly based on what I experienced on another ship.

Someone also mentioned that there is a curtain that can be closed to that area on the EPIC.

I have a 13 year old daughter that locks her door to get changed at home when it is only the two of us in the house. I didn't know what to expect when I saw this setup. She was fine with it as long as we all respected each other's privacy.

I am looking forward to seeing the actual photos of the bathroom setup as these were not.

[Collcoll]

My Hubby and I stayed at the Grand Palladium Royal Suites in Punta Cana a few years back and they had a very similar set up.

I personally didn't like it. I felt that there was some private moments for which there was no real private space. I think I like the idea of a seperate room to do those things. And I do like to get out of the shower and take the time to put on lotion and dry my hair and such while I'm in there.

More importantly, I like the idea of my husband having a seperate room to shave and such. He can make a mess.

It also feels more exposed when using the toilet. Even though there is a door. It's just different.

Having said this... it did not ruin our trip or even put a damper on it. I groaned when I saw this layout and then happily booked what I'm expecting to be an awesome vacation.

It is what it is... shouldn't be that big of a deal.

But if you are traveling with your kids it might get a bit tricky to maintain appropriate modesty. Sister might not want to jump out of the shower exposing herself to dad and brother or some such...

[cruzmaven]

The photos from the Gem shown above are not at all like the situation will be on the Epic in the "wave" cabins.

In the Gem photos the toilet are door and shower doors are contained within the bathroom, which (I assume) has another door separating it from the main part of the cabin. So, the see through shower or toilet door is only an issue if someone else is using the bathroom the same time as you are. If privacy is an issue, its simple enough for one person to use the bathroom at a time, like most any other bathroom in the world.

On the Epic, in the wave cabins, the (what we are assuming will be) transparent shower and toilet doors open into the cabin (with the option of a privacy curtain). Which is what this long speculative thread is all about.

I guess we'll know the realities of the set up in a few months. In my mind, even if the shower and toilet doors in the wave cabins are completely opaque, you're still stepping out of the shower directly into the cabin, not a great situation for many people. I don't know if this would be a deal breaker for me, but its certainly a consideration.

[time2cruise1]

But if you are traveling with your kids it might get a bit tricky to maintain appropriate modesty. Sister might not want to jump out of the shower exposing herself to dad and brother or some such...

Once again there is a heavy privacy curtain that can separate that area from the rest of the cabin giving the Sister nothing to be concerned about. :cool:

[cruzmaven]

Once again there is a heavy privacy curtain that can separate that area from the rest of the cabin giving the Sister nothing to be concerned about. :cool:


Unless Dad and brother are walking into or out of the cabin while sister is in (or coming out of) the shower....

Don't want to over dramatize this issue but it is a concern and a "privacy curtain" is not a 100% solution.