Tim's EPIC, NCL EPIC Review

I love your review. What an exciting trip for you between the road trip and also the cruise. So many pictures! Thank you for taking the time to share your vacation with us.

Enjoying this review

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Isn't there a sign with, "Please wait to be seated." at the entrance? I've seen one on the Gem.

Loving your review and the Dailies. Thanks for doing it!

Following along. I just got off the Getaway on Sunday, and we loved O'Sheehans! I had the fish and chips and wings also. I preferred the Thai Chili ones. I am a bit of an introvert, also, and would have been put off by someone sitting down at my table! Very rude of her! And, yes, you are supposed to be seated by the hostess!

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Uh, but it's not a free seating establishment like the buffet. So no, she was not entitled to sit anywhere.

 

Chile's isn't haute cuisine either, may I just plop down at your table and share food with those at another table while you look on?

OK, O'Sheehans to me looked like a second rate general bar/snack area. Never went in there as it looked scruffy. I do not understand your comment about haute cuisine in Chile. ??

OK, O'Sheehans to me looked like a second rate general bar/snack area. Never went in there as it looked scruffy. I do not understand your comment about haute cuisine in Chile. ??

Chili's is a chain of restaurants in the U.S. Not to be confused with the South American country.

So NCL must have been hard hit finding a band to play in their theater. They found some English group called The Beatles to play. Some rock band out of the U.K. that's all the rage with the ankle biters. Seriously, what kind of name is that? I figured what the heck, I didn't have really anything else to do tonight, so I went and watched them perform. These guys were GREAT! I'm telling you, whoever these Beatles are, they are going all the way to the top! Lots of catchy songs about holding hands and some guy named Jude and this girl in the sky with a diamond and... The Beatles on NCL Epic are not to be missed, whether you are a major fan or not. They played in the Epic Theater on the first night, and in the Cavern Club to standing room only crowds on following nights.

 

 

 

 

 

Deck 7 facing away from the Barber Shop

 

Yes indeed. There is a Barbershop onboard. I didn't inquire about prices, but it's there if you need it and was usually full so I assume you would need reservations. That's when you know you've reached the top as a barber. When you are a barber on a cruise ship.

That picture on the wall would not entice you to have your hair cut in there !

Great review. I just got off epic today. I wish I had all this information last week!

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Great review! My cruise is 11 months away but I'm already excited!

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Well I'm glad there's people that can tolerate no region cruise line

Hey Timsierramist, Thank you very much for taking the time to post a great review! Your pictures and videos are excellent and very much appreciated. We are headed out on the Epic in a couple of weeks and it is great to be able to see so much before we board.

The whole security thing in the port (Canaveral) was different. We have always had the key cards swiped once we were on the ship so doing it while in the port was just weird to see.

It also looks like there is only one area where you board on embarkation day. Is that correct? Seems that would account for large lineups.

I look forward to the rest of your review! I hope the rest of your trip is as good as the first part. Again, thank you :)

Jai

That picture on the wall would not entice you to have your hair cut in there !

I was thinking the same thing. I would hope that is not representative of their work. LOL

WOW! What an "Epic" review. :)

Thanks for taking the time.

What did you think of the ship overall.

We did a last minute cruise on Epic and therefore didn't know anything about it.

I'm assuming you were in a single cabin by the photo. The other cabins are weird. I didn't mind the separate toilet and sink next to your bed idea but hubby hated it. I also don't like the corners cut off the bed. And if you are unlucky enough to have a cabin with the bed near the entry door you are forever trying to shuffle past the narrow space at the end of the bed.

No wonder they cancelled the next ship which was destined to have the same layout.

We did love the shows however. Loved Priscilla and Burn the Floor was amazing. We went twice. There really is a lot of choice with entertainment. Most nights we went to 2 things.

What perfect timing for those of us who will be on the Epic in the future. For me, it will be in two weeks ! We have never done a NCL cruise, so we have no idea what to expect. I feel much better with each review I read, but YOURS is so good with the things I want to see. Thank you very much. Can't wait to read more. Glad you are a foodie and included menus and photos.

Great review. Following.

Hey Timsierramist, Thank you very much for taking the time to post a great review! Your pictures and videos are excellent and very much appreciated. We are headed out on the Epic in a couple of weeks and it is great to be able to see so much before we board.

 

The whole security thing in the port (Canaveral) was different. We have always had the key cards swiped once we were on the ship so doing it while in the port was just weird to see.

 

It also looks like there is only one area where you board on embarkation day. Is that correct? Seems that would account for large lineups.

 

I look forward to the rest of your review! I hope the rest of your trip is as good as the first part. Again, thank you :)

 

Jai

I think it is divided up with at least two entrances on deck 5 and 6. If you watch this video at 6 minutes and 44 seconds, you will see a second gangway with people boarding a deck above.

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Day 4. Time for breakfast. We got to sleep in because our set arrival was supposed to 1100 (11PM). I made my way to the breakfast buffet and snuck away to my private dining room at La Cucina to chow down. The Cruise director came on and gave us the basics such as return time and weather. He also mentioned we would have a lot of competition in Grand Cayman, as there would be 6 other cruise ships in port today and we were one of the last to show

Never could get enough water. Is this what you folks call a "shot glass"?

As we approach, Grand Cayman and the other ships come into view.

Celebrity Reflection.

Holland America and another Celebrity ship.

My chariot awaits. Another 1st for me. I have never boarded a tender to get to land from a ship, so this was going to be pretty cool.

Pics from the tender ride. If you are looking for photo opportunities of the ship itself, this is your chance.

Video: Complete tender experience from ship to shore.

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I started watching the travel channel when I was 10 (you know, when it was actually about destinations and not about ghosts and eating grasshoppers)...and now i'm here.

If Cozumel was the appetizer of blue, Caribbean water, Grand Cayman is the main course.

The main shopping area directly across from the tender dock. I'm not a big souvenir guy myself, but there are some absolutely amazing finds here. I did take some interest in an antique shop selling items such as ship wrecked coins and plates, etc. Felt more like a museum than a shop, but everything was for sale.

Speaking of Museum, there is also a National Museum across from the dock. But I skipped this.

A view of Epic from inside one of the shopping alleyways.

Just browse the streets and the shops and take it all in.

Everything you need to survive as an American tourist on Grand Cayman are here too! Like KFC...

...Burger King...

...and Victoria's Secret.

There is a post office about 2-3 blocks from the terminal too for those post card emergencies.

Cayman Islands fire truck traveling through downtown.

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville is directly across from the terminal and will be the first thing you see. It has a really nice open area and the restaurant/bar is upstairs with countless gift shops downstairs.

Not a souvenir guy like I said. However, I was going to make an exception here. I decided to come back and buy it though because I didn't want it to get all shaken up on my island adventures. Sadly when I returned from my shore excursion, the shop was closed. Next time.

Chickens are everywhere. You'll see almost as many chickens as you will people.

History is alive and well here too. Graves and buildings date back as far as 1700's.

We haven't ventured farther than a quarter mile from the tender dock so far. So there is plenty here to keep you happy whether it's history, shopping or just lying on the beach.

Speaking of beach, my shore excursion time was changed by the tour operator from first tour to last. So I had some free time. I headed straight for 6.3 mile beach!

I could have probably sat here happily, but I wanted to see 10.1 Kilometer beach, darn it! So I continued my trek northbound along the sidewalk of Church Street.

I don't suggest walking to "7 mile" beach. There isn't a whole lot to see on the way, even if you are interested in the local English culture like me. Plus your time on the island is precious. This could eat up an hours walk down the sidewalk. Take the public bus or a taxi.

Vacancy.

A mother hen and her chicks.

After about 45 minutes to an hour with no obvious beach around me, I decided to get adventerous and went on safari trek between two hotel properties.

It was a good call. It was basically the start of 7 mile beach.

Looking back south towards the cruise ships. Seriously. This is the stuff you make desktop wallpapers out of. Now THIS is the Caribbean!

We will be on the Epic in 2 months for transatlantic. Thank You for all these posts & looking forward to more.