Oasis vs. Epic: Which Will You Choose?

[dwolfe]

I am more likely to book Epic because I am a solo traveler and they have the single studios with no single supplement. The cabins look small and odd and I'm not sure about the window facing the corridor (can anyone see in to the cabin from the corridor?) but not paying for my invisible cabin mate is a real draw.

[carnivalpinnacle]

I like Carnival better than both and i wish that they would build a ship to compete.... But i choose Epic.

[GatorPal]

Since I primarily sail out of Florida (to avoid airline hassles) the ship has become increasingly more the major aspect of my cruising (over ports of call). That said, I love all these new ships. Already booked for spring, 2011 on the new Disney Dream (which will be my 12th crusie). Cannot wait!

 

Ahoy and smooth sailing all.....:)

[phish tales]

Only if they're freebies would we sail these monstrocities.

that's like saying you hate carrots without trying them. seems a bit childish..

[tls1012]

Do not like the looks of the Epic in the water, too boxy for my tastes plus I've been reading many reviews about having to pay for entertainment and all the special resturants and frankly, for either price, it should be included. Maybe 1 or 2 but come on now enough is enough and not all of us are overly endowed with money these days. Also, the size differences in the ships should be considered too. Epic is the size of a Freedom class in RCL, they should compare apples to apples, not an apple to a watermelon. I really enjoyed the Freedom last year, planning Carnival's Dream in 2011 and maybe Allure the year after but my vote goes to RCL if I had to make a choice between the 2.

[Correna Andrews]

Epic all the way - scheduled week of Aug. 7th can't wait. Teens love freestyle and casual while parent loves service.

[David&Heather]

Oasis has set up a system of reserving show times. You can do it several months in advance of the cruise. Instead of having one main show in the evening like msot cruises, they have 4 or 5. On their website, you choose between the ice show, Aqua Theater show, production shows, stand-up comedy, and the main show, Hairspray....all of which are in different venues. The reservation idea was met with some resistence at first, but it is proving to be a great idea if everyone uses it properly. It disperses crowds and prevents over crowding in any one venue.

 

Great idea but again not for us as we dont like being too regimented on holiday.

To be honest apart from it's size Oasis appears to be a more refined product than Epic but just too big, the move towards floating cities is not for us.

[jgawne]

Been on Oasis and loved it and yes, they have a higher price point especially the Inaugural which was quite expensive. One consulation was the surprise gifts we received everyday. We are booked on the Epic 10/9/10 and we'll know sure enough if the lower price makes a difference in service or quality. What I don't like about the EPIC price structure is the Service Charge VS Gratuities. It appears the SC is shared with all departments and all job categories. I'm trying to find out from NCL sources if this charge is in addition to the gratuities for our steward and dining staff. All in all, they both have their pros and cons and it's just a matter of choice.;):p

The NCL service charge is in place of gratuities, not in addition to it. And of the 21 dining venues on Epic, 11 do not require reservations or service charge. I've cruised 54 times on various lines and ships. I like freestyle, and have never had difficulty getting table for 2 when I walk in to one of the main dining rooms anytime between 5:30 and 10pm, although a larger group might have a little wait at peak times (6-7:30pm).

 

But I, too, prefer smaller ships, like the R class that Oceania, Princess, an Azamara have, with 700 people and 400 staff, and overnights in some ports.

 

I am looking forward to sailing on Epic in October. Frankly I have little interest in Oasis or Allure, other than to tour one of them.

[Skywench]

Neither ship appeals to me and I also don't care for either cruiseline.

[lvsatman]

Just booked the Epic for January 15th. This is my third NCL cruise. I did one on Disney, which I really liked, but I hated having to plan my day around what time I was going to eat dinner. Also, I am on vacation, I refuse to put on a tie or wear a jacket to dinner. Why would I want to do something on vacation that I don't do at home. NCL has its issues for sure, but everytime I look to book a cruise, the Freestyle cruise always wins out. I want to try RCL, but keep putting it off because of Freestyle dining on NCL.

[Ldyandrea]

Very geeked about sailing on the Epic for a few reasons:

 

1) Solo occupancy studio cabins look great!

2) Love the lounge area concept just for the solo travelers

3) Blue Man Group ++ !

4) Lots and lots of different dining options, inclinding the noodle bar and teppenyaki restaurants.

5) Ice Bar!

6) Bliss Ultra Lounge looks fun

7) O'Sheehan's sports bar open 24x7

 

To be honest I haven't really seen much about the Oasis that is of particular interest to me. The Epic has several things, but the most important to me is the studio cabin category. I've not yet sailed on NCL, and have been a big Princess fan.....but this item alone may win me over for good!

[orangegrove]

Ice Rink? Dont think there is one on epic.

 

Yup, there is one. It's a removable one that they lay out near the basket ball courts. Skates are available. See photo:

 

[geoherb]

Neither for us. We have not taken a cruise with NCL in more than 20 years and even with the innovations don't have plans to go back. It's been almost a dozen years since we cruised with RCI. I'd consider one of the Radiance class ships, but nothing larger.

[Freq Traveler]

My husband and I are booked on both cruises. Oasis in Sept 2010 and Epic in Feb 2011. We prefer the dining room experience on Royal Caribbean to the freesytle cruising, however, the entertainment on Epic sounds outstanding, and I we love to sail on a new ship. The new room design really appealed to me. We'll see... after we have stayed in the room for a week. :)

 

The new restaurants appeal to me as well. We love a good Churisscaria (sp??) and can't wait to try Teppanyaki--if we get in.

[rogerc1944]

We were on the Epic. They do have some pretty fancy stuff (huge tv screens, great entertainment, very friendly crew, etc.) but it's nearly impossible to find a quiet spot (no library, game room, etc.). The Epic nickels and dimes you at every turn. The main activity is gambling in their smoke filled casino. You are forced to go thru the casino because they have removed buttons from the elevators and blocked the stairs). Music at full blast is everywhere and almost impossible to escape. Lage crowds everywhere and insufficient seating. The standard balcony cabins are very strange: short beds, entering thru the bathroom, near transparent doors visible thru out the cabin, a dog bowl sized sink that causes water to splash all over the floor, a hair dryer that plugs in below the coffee maker (put hair, etc. in the coffee makings -- yuk!). We so disliked the way Norwegian manages their ship and we will never sail with them again under any circumstances.

[AF-1]

I gotta say Allure over Oasis or Epic. Why? Allure has a Mexican Restraunt and I love Mexican food.

[Texas Tillie]

I gotta say Allure over Oasis or Epic. Why? Allure has a Mexican Restraunt and I love Mexican food.

 

As a Texan, I've got to say that I'm "suspicious" of what anyone from Cincinnati calls Mexican food! My lord, they put macaroni in ground meat and call it chili!!!!!:eek::D:p:);)

[ROwens]

We will not be cruising on either of these ships. My husband and I just took our 40th cruise a couple of months ago and we have cruised on both RCL and NCL, but both of these ships are just entirely too big. In fact, I understand that they’re so large that they can only dock in a very few ports.

 

We had thought about trying one cruise on the Epic just to see what all the buzz was about regarding a big ship. However, when we read about the design of the Epic bathrooms, that was the end of that idea. I can’t imagine being in a cabin where all of your bathroom sounds and odors come out into the cabin. It amazes me how anyone could think this was a design that people would embrace. I wonder if the cruise lines have ever thought of asking their frequent cruisers what they would like to see on a new ship.

 

In addition to visiting new ports, one of the main things we have always enjoyed about cruising is actually being out on the ocean and feeling the wind in your face and smelling the sea air. While you get some of that experience in the balcony cabins, it’s not the same as being on a ship that has an open promenade deck. Unfortunately, those ships are few and far between now. In fact, the only one we’ve cruised on recently with an open promenade deck is the NCL Spirit. My suggestion to cruise lines is to build some new smaller ships with classic traditional designs that are capable of going into smaller ports.

[DaisyRose]

We booked the Oasis shortly after sales opened, quite a while before she set sail, and I'd say we got a great price compared to the prices I am reading about today. We would like to try Epic, as she has some interesting innovations that we'd like to try, but my disappointment is that these ships are mostly going to the Caribbean at many of the same ports. I understand Oasis can only dock at a few special ports because of her size, but is that also the case for Epic? I'd like to try Epic, too, perhaps on an East coast, West Coast, or Canada/New England cruise, but I'm really not that interested in yet another Caribbean cruise. Wish they'd bring Epic to a few different places (can't afford the flights to Europe right now). I think it's great to try different cruise lines and different types of ships. It gives you a great basis for comparison, and helps you realize what you like the most.

[lovetocruise4]

By the time you pay for all the extras on both ships I can cruise 2 times on a smaller ship.

[sonnenschein]

No Oasis or Epic for us, we enjoy the sea to much to be swallowed up by these big ships. The port visits are to limited because of the ship sizes and we don't need icerings,climing walls and other kiddy stuff to enjoy ourselfs, and we don't like 7 day cruises.

We prefer the princes line with its understated eleganz,good food and promenad deck. We are waiting for their 2 new built ships since we been on all of their excisting ships already, as elite passengers we get a lot of goodies from free laundry to free internet and a lot of other great surprises:D

[Cruzaholic41]

...and we don't need icerings,climing walls and other kiddy stuff to enjoy ourselfs, and we don't like 7 day cruises.

 

Just because it doesn't appeal to you, that doesn't make it "kiddie" stuff. :rolleyes:

[GeckoGirl]

Went on the Oasis, was not impressed. Cost was WAY to much and service was poor. I expected alot more since I was paying almost double than you would pay on other ships.

 

I wanted to go on the Epic but after hearing about the problems, will probably wait for a year or so till all the kinks are worked out.

 

So we will be trying the Carnival Dream next.

[AAAAmerican]

I did VOTE as in all elections what I feel best.

 

 

In these ships mentioned.. IMHO, neiher is well for the cost basis paid.

 

When these and others cruise lines come back and provided us Cruise Critic PAYING Cruisers with HIGHER QUALITY Products/Services once again then.....

 

 

Why do they act like the Metal TUBE Lines now ( Airlines ) ..charging for anything they are able to muster on and upon us Cruise Critic Cruisers?

 

Whats next Baggage FEES to and Baggage Weight Limits?

 

Thye Cabins are even going down in size too now even the W.C. ( Water Closets )...

 

 

If they want POST a Higher Fare so we know what is included..

 

 

Have youall noticed even after spending BILLIONS of $USD the Cruise lines do not even make accurate/quality measurements for the Americans and/or American Ports now???

 

 

I think Cruising on quality ships with a great staff and crew should be at PAR not as it has gone down to too now...

 

Even cuisine is subjective but a very basic test for any ship and chef is Basic Quality Cheese Cake.:D

 

 

Now in a ship, SIZE MATTERS, .... which cost A BILLION Dollars and they are not even able to make a Basic Cheese Cake on it for paid Cruise Critic Members:mad:... why take and pay the fare now?;)

 

QUALITY of PRODUCTS/SERVICES count!

[98vette]

Wow! Such varied opinions and it's great to see everyone's take on these ships. I for one loved the Oasis of the Seas and I'm hoping for an even better experience on the EPIC in October. My DH and I are signed up for the Allure's Inaugural in December and I'm sure it will meet our expectations once again. All ships have their quirks and sometimes you just have to look beyond that, yes I know you're paying a premium, but nothing in life is perfect. We had excellent service in the AnyTime dining on Oasis and our wait staff were so fabulous we chose them everynight. The same wait staff is moving to the Allure and we will definately request them again. We love the big ships and although Royal Caribbean is our favorite line, we want to experience all cruise lines so we can make our comparisons. Next year we'll probably try Princess and HAL. Even with the premium prices, it's still considerably cheaper than flying to your destination, paying for entertainment, hotel and food (except in Vegas right now). Yes, with the larger ships you do lose some of the ocean views and cabin space but if you love the variety of food choices, entertainment and a fun but elegant atmosphere, you should try one of the larger ships at least once. Of course this is in my HUMBLE OPINION..... Happy sailing everyone....;):p