Specialty Dining on Epic First Night?

Cruising Epic in February. Have any of you booked a specialty restaurant the first night? We have the dining package and I was thinking of booking specialty restaurants on each sea day? Thoughts....opinions?

We booked ours for our sea days as much as possible. The first night we do something quick/easy, such as O’Sheehans or sushi, as we’re usually tired and don’t want to sit down to a long meal.

The only thing with booking specialty on first night is -- 1) when your luggage comes 2) watching sailaway

So if you book it late enough, should be fine. It's nice because probably easiest to get reservation.

Not particularly on the Epic, but we have sometimes gone to a speciality restaurant on embarkation day. I don’t see any particular reason not to, unless you are departing from somewhere particularly nice to watch sailaway from (although that could apply on any port day).

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I have booked specialty restaurants for days 2,3,6,9 of our ulcoming 11 nights on Epic.

we kinda like to "celebrate" during and after sailaway...so O'sheehans or late buffet is more our speed first night.

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Cruising Epic in February. Have any of you booked a specialty restaurant the first night? We have the dining package and I was thinking of booking specialty restaurants on each sea day? Thoughts....opinions?

Book as soon as reservations open 120 days prior to cruise (130 if you are in the Haven). That's in a couple of weeks from now.

Sea day prime time dining will sell out quickly (especially on the Epic where there are fewer specialty restaurants).

Most popular restaurant is Cagney's and Teppanyaki.

We always book a specialty restaurant on the first night (we have the 3 night SDP plus the 2 platinum plus dinners).

On the Epic, we use one of our dinners for the Cirque show.

We always book a specialty restaurant on the first night as the main dining rooms seem to have longer lines until everyone falls into their cruise routine. We do this whether we're in the Haven or a mini-suite. We're late diners, usually eating at 8 or 8:30, so it doesn't interfere with sail away but may interfere with shows.

Follow Bird Travels advice and book as soon as reservations open. Learned that lesson the hard way on our first NCL freestyle cruise after a NCL cruise gap of a few years!

Enjoy your cruise

Book as soon as reservations open 120 days prior to cruise (130 if you are in the Haven). That's in a couple of weeks from now.

 

Sea day prime time dining will sell out quickly (especially on the Epic where there are fewer specialty restaurants).

 

Most popular restaurant is Cagney's and Teppanyaki.

 

We always book a specialty restaurant on the first night (we have the 3 night SDP plus the 2 platinum plus dinners).

 

On the Epic, we use one of our dinners for the Cirque show.

Bear in mind a certain % of the tables dont even show on the "My NCL" page - these are left open for booking onboard. If you find times full get straight to your cabin tv on day one and book.

If your a couple there's also a slight glitch in the way the booking system works - It basically allocates a set number of pre available tables for each of the set amount of covers. So you end up with 2s disappearing very quickly though the 1s are fully available and the same with 4s v 3s. There are no 1s and 3s tables though so carp diem ;) - obviously this doesnt work for Teppanyaki though.

We booked Teppanyaki for the 1st day (our usual choice).